Identification of the rare EGFR mutation p.G796S as somatic and germline mutation in white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
BACKGROUND
Somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are involved in tumorigenesis and response to targeted therapies in distinct cancer types. Squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck (HNSCC) show an incidence of EGFR mutations varying from 7% in Asians to 0% to 4% in white patients. Mutational screening predominantly focuses on the analysis of hotspot regions of EGFR (exons 19 and 21).


METHODS
In a follow-up study, we screened for mutations in exons 18 to 21 of the EGFR gene in 127 patients.


RESULTS
In this cohort, a mutation frequency of 2.4% (3/127) was detected. In addition to the previously reported mutation p.K745R, the otherwise rare EGFR mutation p.G796S occurred in 2 patients with HNSCC (2/127).


CONCLUSIONS
EGFR kinase mutations are rare in white patients with HNSCC. Extension of mutational screening to exon 20 may clarify the frequency and impact of the mutation p.G796S.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Ilona
I
Schwentner
Martina
M
Witsch-Baumgartner
Georg M
GM
Sprinzl
Jens
J
Krugmann
Alexandar
A
Tzankov
Siegfried
S
Jank
Heinz
H
Zwierzina
Judith
J
Loeffler-Ragg
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D066246:ErbB Receptors