Biomarkers in Blood Samples From Patients With Refractory Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Previously Treated With Sorafenib Tosylate

BRAF, KRAS and EGFR Mutation Detection in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Treated With Sorafenib Monotherapy

RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer.

PURPOSE: This research study is studying biomarkers in blood samples from patients with refractory non-small cell lung cancer previously treated with sorafenib tosylate.

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the mutation rates of BRAF, KRAS, and EGFR in patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with sorafenib tosylate on protocol ECOG-2501.
• To determine the association between BRAF, KRAS, or EGFR mutation status and clinical benefits in patients treated with this regimen.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.

DNA is isolated from archived plasma samples and analyzed for BRAF, KRAS, and EGFR mutations.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Diagnosis of refractory non-small cell lung cancer
• Received sorafenib tosylate on protocol ECOG-E2501
• Available blood specimens

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

• Not specified

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

• See Disease Characteristics