Table 1.

Selected targetable biomarkers in solid tumours

BiomarkerAlterationTargeted therapiesDrug typeTumour types with licensed indication
ALKRearrangementAlectinib, brigatinib, lorlatinib, crizotinibSMNSCLC
BRAF V600EPoint mutationDabrafenib + trametinib (MEK inhibitor), vemurafenib + cobimetinib, encorafenib + binimetinibSMMelanoma, NSCLC, tumour agnostic (dabrafenib + trametinib)
EGFRDeletion, point mutationErlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib, osimertinibSMNSCLC
FGFR2RearrangementPemigatinib, infigratinibbSMBTC
FGFR3RearrangementErdafitinibSMUrothelialb
FRαOverexpressionaMirvetuximab soravtansineADCOvarian
HER2/ERBB2Amplification, overexpressionTrastuzumab, pertuzumabmAbBreast, oesophagogastric (trastuzumab only)
Tucatinib, neratinib, lapatinibSMBreast
Trastuzumab deruxtecanADCBreast, gastric/GOJb, NSCLCb
HRDNumerous alterations lead to this phenotype e.g. BRCA1 loss, ATM lossPARP inhibitors e.g. olaparib, niraparib, rucaparib, talazoparibSMOvarian, breast, prostate
IDH1Point mutationIvosidenibSMBTCb
KITPoint mutation, deletionImatinib, sunitinib, avapritinib, regorafenibSMGIST
KRAS G12CPoint mutationSotorasib, adegrasibbSMNSCLC
METAmplification, skip mutationCapmatinibb, tepotinibSMNSCLC
MSI-HPoint mutation, deletion, epigeneticImmune checkpoint inhibitors eg nivolumab, pembrolizumab, ipilimumab,mAbTumour-agnostic
Nectin-4OverexpressionaEnfortumab vedotinADCUrothelial
NTRKRearrangementEntrectinib, larotrectinibSMAgnostic
PDGFRAPoint mutationAvapritinibSMGIST
PIK3CAPoint mutationAlpelisibSMBreast
RETRearrangementSelpercatinib, pralsetinibSMThyroid, NSCLC
ROS1RearrangementCrizotinib, entrectinibSMNSCLC
TFOverexpressionaTisotumab vedotinADCCervicalb
Trop-2OverexpressionaSacituzumab govitecanADCBreast, urothelialb
VHLPoint mutation, insertion/deletion, rearrangement, epigeneticBelzutifan (blocks downstream HIF2α)SMRCC in Von Hippel Lindau disease
  • ADC = antibody–drug conjugate; BTC = biliary tract cancer; CRC = colorectal cancer; FRα = folate receptor alpha; GIST = gastrointestinal stromal tumour; HCC = hepatocellular carcinoma; HNSCC = head/neck squamous cell carcinoma; HRD = homologous recombination repair deficiency (genomic signature); mAb = monoclonal antibody; MSI-H = microsatellite instability-high (genomic signature); MMR = mismatch repair; NSCLC = non-small cell lung cancer; SM = small-molecule inhibitor; TF = tissue factor.

  • aTargeted therapy approved regardless of biomarker status. Biomarker not routinely tested.

  • bApproved by US Food and Drug Administration.