Comparison of four antibodies for immunohistochemical evaluation of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in non-small cell lung cancer.
Agents acting on signalling molecules of growth pathways have emerged as therapeutics for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among them are inhibitors of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). To meet Belgian reimbursement criteria for erlotinib, patients must have an EGFR-positive tumour, defined as at least 10% of cells showing membranous staining on immunohistochemistry. This study compares results obtained with the Dako pharmDx kit versus other anti-EGFR antibodies in 634 NSCLC. More than 80% of patients qualify for erlotinib therapy using the Dako pharmDx kit or antibodies from Zymed or Novocastra; when NeoMarkers antibodies are used, less than 70% will do. Although immunohistochemical stainings for EGFR can be performed on biopsies, surgical and cytological samples from primary and metastatic NSCLC, highest positivity rates were obtained in biopsies from primary tumours. In conclusion, immunohistochemistry for patient selection for erlotinib therapy needs standardization in order to avoid results influenced by technical issues.
Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, B-1070 Brussels, Belgium.
Anne
A
Mathieu
Birgit
B
Weynand
Eric
E
Verbeken
Susana
S
Da Silva
Christine
C
Decaestecker
Isabelle
I
Salmon
Pieter
P
Demetter
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors