title: Clinical course of patients with non-small cell lung cancer and epidermal growth factor receptor exon 19 and exon 21 mutations treated with gefitinib or erlotinib.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase domain have been associated with sensitivity to erlotinib and gefitinib. We undertook this study to explore the relationship between EGFR mutation type and clinical variables, including treatment with gefitinib and erlotinib.
  
  
  METHODS
  In patients with NSCLC, EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations and EGFR L858R point mutations were analyzed by nonsequencing PCR-based methods from paraffin blocks of tissue obtained before treatment. The results were correlated with clinical information (sex, pathologic subtype, race/ethnicity, treatment, and overall survival).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two most common EGFR mutations were identified in 24% (70 of 291; 95% confidence interval, 26%-38%) of tumors from patients with NSCLC. EGFR mutation was associated with Asian ethnicity (P = 0.0023) and being a "never smoker" (P = 0.0001). Among patients with EGFR mutations, 39% (27 of 70) had EGFR L858R, whereas 61% (43 of 70) had an EGFR exon 19 deletion. After treatment with erlotinib (n = 12) or gefitinib (n = 22), patients with EGFR mutations had a median overall survival of 20 months. After treatment with erlotinib or gefitinib, patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions had significantly longer median survival than patients with EGFR L858R (34 versus 8 months; log-rank P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGFR mutations in exons 19 or 21 are correlated with clinical factors predictive of response to gefitinib and erlotinib. Those with EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations had a longer median survival than patients with EGFR L858R point mutation. These observations warrant confirmation in a prospective study and exploration of the biological mechanisms of the differences between the two major EGFR mutations.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Riely
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pao
authors.forename: Duykhanh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Allan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Naiyer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rizvi
authors.forename: Ennapadam S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Venkatraman
authors.forename: Maureen F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Zakowski
authors.forename: Mark G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kris
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ladanyi
authors.forename: Vincent A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib