title: C-erbB-3 expression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated by Erlotinib.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical impact of c-erbB-3 has seldom been assessed in patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-three NSCLC patients treated by erlotinib for c-erbB-3 and EGFR expression were investigated by immunohistochemistry analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two partial responses, one minor response, two stable diseases and twenty progressive diseases were observed at the first evaluation. Seventeen patients died before evaluation. Median EGFR expression was 70% of the cancer cells. Forty-two percent of the tumours co-expressed c-erbB-3 and EGFR without any difference according to histology or disease stage. There was no correlation between c-erbB-3 and EGFR expression. Median survival time was 2.6 months and the six months survival rate was 21%. There was no detectable impact of EGFR (p=0.94) or c-erbB-3 (p=0.93) expression on survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this small particular cohort of NSCLC patients receiving salvage therapy with erlotinib, there was no correlation between c-erbB-3 expression and clinical parameters, nor between cerbB-3/EGFR expression and outcome.
authors.affiliation: Département d'Oncologie Thoracique et Soins Intensifs et Data Centre,Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: CsToth
authors.forename: Géraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anthoine
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berghmans
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mascaux
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paesmans
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sculier
authors.forename: Anne-Pascale
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Meert
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011799:Quinazolines; D000069347:Erlotinib Hydrochloride; D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020893:Receptor, ErbB-3