Non–small cell lung cancer is no longer viewed as a single disease, but a constellation of cancer types that benefit from different treatments.

Advancements in the identification of driver mutations with specific Food and Drug Administration–regulated molecular tests have been approved for matching the right treatment to the right patient. These biomarkers, referred to as theranostic biomarkers, because of their ability to support treatment decisions and predict a clinical response are changing the way oncologists formulate non–small cell lung cancer treatment plans.

Currently approved biomarker tests for lung cancer include fluorescence in situ hybridization testing for genetic rearrangements and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing for genetic mutations. ...