PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Demes, Melanie
AU  - Bartsch, Holger
AU  - Stefanie, Scheil-Bertram
AU  - Joachim, Schirren
AU  - Servet, Bölükbas
AU  - Norbert, Frickhofen
AU  - Annette, Fisseler-Eckhof
TI  - Analysis of clinically theranostic relevant genes, EGFR and KRAS, in subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p1955
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1955.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1955.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Aims: KRAS and EGFR oncogenes have proven to be clinically significant as predictive or prognostic factors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These genetic alterations are poorly investigated in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).In a single study we evaluated the frequency of these cancer relevant genes in adenocarcinoma (ADC) and SCC and therefore sought to gain further inside into the significance of EGFR in NSCLC and to explore whether these mutations are restricted to an adenocarcinoma component.Materials and methods: Tumor samples of 741 patients suffering from stage III to IV NSCLC were investigated. KRAS mutations were examined by means of two independent analytical methods (Sequencing and SNaPshot). The molecular status of EGFR exon 19 and exon 21 were analyzed by fragment analysis. Mutations in EGFR exon 18 were assayed by direct sequencing.Results: The 741 NSCLC samples comprised 149 (20.1%) SCC and 592 (79.9%) ADC. No coexisting mutations of EGFR and KRAS occurred in ADC and SCC, respectively. EGFR mutations were detected in 9 of 149 (6%) SCC (5.4% in exon 21 and 0.6% in exon 19) and in 110 of 592 (18.6%) ADC (9.1% in exon 19, 8.8% in exon 2 1 and <1% in exon 18).7 of 95 (7.4%) SCC and 79 of 243 (32.5%) ADC were characterized as KRAS-mutation positive.Conclusion: In conclusion somatic mutations of EGFR and KRAS gene can also develop in SCC. Patients with EGFR mutations are thus considered candidates for chemotherapeutic treatment targeting EGFR. Therefore EGFR mutational analysis should be performed not only in ADC, but also in SCC to allow accurate diagnosis and treatment.