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‹ Wed · 22 Jul 2026
Early cancer detection or prevention

Clinical Utility of Next Generation Sequencing in Concurrent EBUS-TBNA and Liquid Biopsies in NSCLC

Blood and tissue biopsies together catch more actionable mutations than either alone, improving precision testing for lung cancer.

This prospective study of 199 NSCLC patients showed tissue biopsy via EBUS-TBNA detected 15% more clinically actionable mutations than concurrent liquid biopsy, yet 3.5% of patients had mutations only in blood. The findings define liquid biopsy as complementary—not equivalent—to tissue biopsy for NGS in NSCLC and highlight the need for improved sensitivity and turnaround time.

What the study was

Study design
Prospective observational cohort study
Population
199 NSCLC patients undergoing concurrent EBUS-TBNA tissue biopsy and liquid biopsy for NGS
Sample size
199
Category
Diagnostics
Maturity
Validated
Journal
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine

Why it surfaced

Prospective 199-patient AJRCCM study comparing tissue vs. liquid biopsy NGS yields; provides clinically actionable evidence defining complementary roles of both approaches.

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