Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma: a clinicopathological study including EGFR mutation analysis.
BACKGROUND
Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is a rare epithelial tumor and has an aggressive clinical course. As few studies of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma have been described, the clinicopathological characteristics of the disease remain unclear. Especially, the information on the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma is sparse.


METHODS
We retrospectively examined 17 patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. EGFR mutation and Ki-67 labeling index were investigated in these patients.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 72 years (range, 47-84 years). Thirteen patients were men and four were women. EGFR mutation was observed in 3 (18%) of 17 patients. The median value of Ki-67 labeling index was 62% (range, 20-87%). Positron emission tomography with 18-fluorodeoxy-glucose was performed in 16 patients, and the standardized uptake value tended to be high (median 19.3). The survival of patients without surgery demonstrated a significantly poor prognosis compared with those with surgery (P = 0.0096). Palliative chemotherapy was almost poor response in advanced pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. The response to gefitinib in a patient with EGFR mutation was small and transient.


CONCLUSIONS
EGFR mutation was recognized in approximately 20% of patients with pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma. It is necessary to investigate whether the use of a molecular targeting drug improves outcome for pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
Kaira
Kyoichi
K
Division of Thoracic Oncology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka, Japan. kkaira1970@yahoo.co.jp
Horie
Yoshiki
Y
Ayabe
Eriko
E
Murakami
Haruyasu
H
Takahashi
Toshiaki
T
Tsuya
Asuka
A
Nakamura
Yukiko
Y
Naito
Tateaki
T
Endo
Masahiro
M
Kondo
Haruhiko
H
Nakajima
Takashi
T
Yamamoto
Nobuyuki
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002282:Adenocarcinoma, Bronchiolo-Alveolar / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D000077156:Gefitinib; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018631:ras Proteins / Q000235:genetics
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C117307:KRAS protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D011799:Quinazolines; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D016283:Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras); D018631:ras Proteins; D000077156:Gefitinib