Research article summary (published 13 Nov 2009):

Detection of epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in plasma by mutant-enriched PCR assay for prediction of the response to gefitinib in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Full Abstract

The high frequency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in tyrosine kinase inhibitor-responsive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases is now well established, highlighting the predictive value of activating EGFR mutations in guiding the clinical use of EGFR-targeted therapies. However, specimen source and methods for EGFR mutation analysis are limited by tissue availability and technical feasibility in clinical application. Therefore, the current study is designed to establish a blood-based approach for the assessment of EGFR mutations in NSCLC patients, in particular the advanced stage, and to test its clinical application. Plasma samples were obtained from the enrolled 134 NSCLC patients. The detection rate of the EGFR exon19 deletions and exon21 L858R was 49.3% (66/134) by the blood-based, mutant-enriched polymerase chain reaction. In the paired tumor and plasma samples, the detected mutant types of each pair respectively by direct sequencing and mutant-enriched polymerase chain reaction were concordant in 17 of 18 (94.4%). In the patients treated with gefitinib as a second-line therapy, those with plasma EGFR mutation have a prolonged median progression-free survival compared with those with EGFR wild type (7.609 vs. 2.877 months, p = 0.002). On comparing the efficacy of gefitinib with that of docetaxel, it was found that the median progression-free survival was significantly longer for patients treated with gefitinib than those with docetaxel in those harboring plasma EGFR mutation (7.609 vs. 3.192 months, p = 0.006). These results suggest that the blood-based EGFR mutations test has the ability to provide a reliable guidance for clinical decision making for the treatment of the advanced NSCLC patients.

Author information

Author/s: He, Chen (C); Liu, Ming (M); Zhou, Chengzhi (C); Zhang, Jiexia (J); Ouyang, Ming (M); Zhong, Nanshan (N); Xu, Jun (J);

Affiliation: State Key Lab of Respiratory Disease and Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou Medical College, Guangzhou 510120, China.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer (Int J Cancer), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Nov; vol 125 (issue 10) : pp 2393-9

Dates: Created 2009/09/28; Completed 2009/11/05;

PMID: 19530244, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/5/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adenocarcinoma - drug therapy; genetics; secondary Adult Aged Aged, 80 and over Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use Carcinoma, Large Cell - drug therapy; genetics; secondary Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - drug therapy; genetics; secondary Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - drug therapy; genetics; secondary DNA, Neoplasm - genetics Female

Humans Lung Neoplasms - drug therapy; genetics; pathology Male Middle Aged Mutation - genetics Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods Prognosis Quinazolines - therapeutic use Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - blood; genetics Survival Rate

Associated Chemicals: Antineoplastic Agents (0) ; DNA, Neoplasm (0) ; Quinazolines (0) ; gefitinib (184475-35-2) ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor (EC 2.7.1.112) ; EGFR protein, human (EC 2.7.10.1)

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• First-line gefitinib in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer harboring somatic EGFR mutations. 3 May 2008
• EGFR mutation status in tumour-derived DNA from pleural effusion fluid is a practical basis for predicting the response to gefitinib. 22 Oct 2006
• Safety and efficacy of gefitinib treatment in elderly patients with non-small-cell lung cancer: Okayama Lung Cancer Study Group experience. 30 Dec 2004
• An alternative method for screening EGFR mutation using RFLP in non-small cell lung cancer patients. 29 Sep 2008
• EGFR mutation of tumor and serum in gefitinib-treated patients with chemotherapy-naive non-small cell lung cancer. 27 Feb 2006
• A phase II trial of gefitinib monotherapy in chemotherapy-naïve patients of 75 years or older with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. 29 Sep 2008
• EGFR and KRAS mutations as criteria for treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors: retro- and prospective observations in non-small-cell lung cancer. 21 Oct 2006
• The EGFR mutation and its correlation with response of gefitinib in previously treated Chinese patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. 12 Jun 2005
• Predictors of the response to gefitinib in refractory non-small cell lung cancer. 13 Mar 2005
• Clinical predictors versus epidermal growth factor receptor mutation in gefitinib-treated non-small-cell lung cancer patients. 5 Sep 2006

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.