Epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and increased copy numbers predict gefitinib sensitivity in patients with recurrent non-small-cell lung cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and copy number as predictors of clinical outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving gefitinib.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients with NSCLC who experienced relapse after surgery and received gefitinib were included. Direct sequencing of exons 18 to 24 of EGFR and exons 18 to 24 of ERBB2 was performed using DNA extracted from surgical specimens. Pyrosequencing and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction were performed to analyze the allelic pattern and copy number of EGFR.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine patients (59%) had EGFR mutations; 20 patients had deletional mutations in exon 19, 17 patients had missense mutations (L858R) in exon 21, and two patients had missense mutations (G719S or G719C) in exon 18. No mutations were identified in ERBB2. Response rate (82% [32 of 39 patients] v 11% [three of 27 patients]; P < .0001), time to progression (TTP; median, 12.6 v 1.7 months; P < .0001), and overall survival (median, 20.4 v 6.9 months; P = .0001) were significantly better in patients with EGFR mutations than in patients with wild-type EGFR. Increased EGFR copy numbers (> or = 3/cell) were observed in 29 patients (44%) and were significantly associated with a higher response rate (72% [21 of 29 patients] v 38% [14 of 37 patients]; P = .005) and a longer TTP (median, 9.4 v 2.6 months; P = .038). High EGFR copy numbers (> or = 6/cell) were caused by selective amplification of mutant alleles.


CONCLUSIONS
EGFR mutations and increased copy numbers were significantly associated with better clinical outcome in gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients.
Takano
Toshimi
T
Division of Internal Medicine, National Cancer Center Hospital, 5-1-1 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan. totakano@ncc.go.jp
Ohe
Yuichiro
Y
Sakamoto
Hiromi
H
Tsuta
Koji
K
Matsuno
Yoshihiro
Y
Tateishi
Ukihide
U
Yamamoto
Seiichiro
S
Nokihara
Hiroshi
H
Yamamoto
Noboru
N
Sekine
Ikuo
I
Kunitoh
Hideo
H
Shibata
Tatsuhiro
T
Sakiyama
Tokuki
T
Yoshida
Teruhiko
T
Tamura
Tomohide
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib