Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR): mutational and protein expression analysis in gastric cancer.
BACKGROUND
Since specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) somatic mutations have been demonstrated to influence the response to anti-EGFR therapy in non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR gene mutational analysis of different types of neoplasm is under investigation.


METHODS
EGFR protein expression and gene mutations in exons 18, 19 and 21 were investigated in 49 gastric adenocarcinomas.


RESULTS
no specific EGFR gene mutations were detected, while EGFR positive staining was detected in 6% of the cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that in gastric adenocarcinoma, specific EGFR gene mutations are very rare or absent and the rate of EGFR protein expression is low.
Mammano
Enzo
E
Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. enzo.mammano@unipd.it
Belluco
Claudio
C
Sciro
Manuela
M
Mencarelli
Roberto
R
Agostini
Marco
M
Michelotto
Mauro
M
Marchet
Alberto
A
Nitti
Donato
D
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D066246:ErbB Receptors