Abstract

Predictive factor is a measurement that predicts response or lack of response to a specific treatment. Some common examples include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation in lung cancer that determines response to EGFR inhibitor like gefitinib, Her2/neu amplification in breast cancer that determines response to anti-Her2 therapy like trastuzumab or lapatinib, and K-RAS/N-RAS mutations in colorectal cancer which are a negative predictive factorfor response to EGFR monoclonal antibody such as cetuximab.