TMB can be measured from cytology samples
Tumor mutational burden (TMB) assessment is feasible on cytology specimens from NSCLC and correlates with oncogenic alterations and PD-L1—opening molecular workload opportunities in cytology labs. The report underscores expanding demand for NGS on cytology and cell-block material. (x.com)
Min Dai and colleagues published a retrospective Cancer Cytopathology report (April 2026) analyzing biomarker data from non–small cell lung cancer cytology specimens (PMID 41891376). (read.qxmd.com) The cohort comprised 312 NSCLC cytology cases collected 2020–2022, sequenced with a DNA hybrid-capture NGS panel interrogating 610 genes plus selected immuno‑oncology signatures; PD‑L1 was assessed by IHC tumor proportion score. (read.qxmd.com) Of the 312 cases, 192 harbored NSCLC-specific oncogenic alterations, and TMB comparisons used EGFR‑mutated tumors as the reference group. (read.qxmd.com) TMB was significantly higher versus EGFR in KRAS (padj = 2.7×10−4), ERBB2 (padj =.023), and BRAF (padj =.023) tumors and significantly lower in ALK‑rearranged tumors (padj =.005). (read.qxmd.com) PD‑L1 TPS was significantly higher in KRAS‑mutant (padj =.002) and MET exon 14‑altered tumors (padj = 1.06×10−4), and strong positive correlations between continuous TMB and PD‑L1 were observed in ERBB2-, KRAS-, and BRAF‑mutated subsets. (read.qxmd.com) Co‑occurring TP53 mutations amplified immunogenicity (TMB/PD‑L1) when present with KRAS, ERBB2, or BRAF but not with EGFR, and the authors conclude cytology specimens in this series provided adequate material for integrated NGS and PD‑L1 testing. (read.qxmd.com) The abstract and conference recognition list Min Dai’s work among selected presentations (Papanicolaou Society awardees), confirming peer interest in cytology‑based comprehensive biomarker workflows for NSCLC. (papsociety.org)
