Exploration of resistance mechanisms for epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors based on plasma analysis by digital polymerase chain reaction and next‐generation sequencing

Liquid biopsy offers a potential alternative to tissue biopsy for detection of genetic alterations in cancer, and it has been introduced into clinical practice to detect the tyrosine kinase inhibitor ( TKI ) resistance‐conferring T790M mutation of epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) in patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer ( NSCLC ). We prospectively collected tumor and plasma samples from 25 NSCLC patients who harbored activating...