Computed tomography-guided core-needle biopsy specimens demonstrate epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Target therapy with a new class of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors shows improved clinical response in EGFR gene-mutated lung cancers.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT)-guided core-needle biopsy specimens for the assessment of EGFR gene mutation in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).


METHODS
Seventeen (nine males, eight females) patients with advanced NSCLC were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent CT-guided core-needle biopsy of the lung tumor prior to treatment with the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib. There were no life-threatening complications of biopsy. The specimens were sent fresh-frozen for EGFR mutation analysis and histopathological study.


RESULTS
There were 12 (70.6%) EGFR gene mutants and five (29.4%) nonmutants. The objective response rate to gefitinib therapy was 73.3% (11 of 15 patients), with 91.7% (11 of 12 mutants) for the mutant group and 0% for the nonmutant group.


CONCLUSIONS
CT-guided core-needle biopsy of advanced NSCLC enables the acquisition of sufficient tissue for EGFR gene mutation analysis.
Chen
C-M
CM
Department of Imaging and Intervention, and Department of Hematology and Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Chang
J W-C
JW
Cheung
Y-C
YC
Lin
G
G
Hsieh
J-J
JJ
Hsu
T
T
Huang
S-F
SF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D018773:Genes, erbB-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D011799:Quinazolines; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D000077156:Gefitinib