title: [High-resolution melting analysis for the detection of EGFR mutations in circulating DNA of lung cancer patients].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss the practicability of detecting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in plasma circulating DNA of lung cancer patients by high-resolution melting (HRM).
  
  
  METHODS
  The sensitivity of HRM was analyzed by the detection of samples containing different proportions of EGFR-mutated plasmids. The mutations in exons 19 and 21 of EGFR were detected by HRM in 96 lung cancer patients from September 2009 to May 2010. And the results of HRM were compared with those of sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HRM detection could identify the EGFR mutations in a proportion of 5% of mutated plasmid DNA. And the EGFR mutations were detected in 17 (17.7%, 17/96) cases. Among which, the number of exons 19 and 21 mutations was 15 (88.2%, 15/17) and 2 (11.8%, 2/17) respectively. The results of sequencing were consistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The HRM analysis may be an optimal method for clinical screening of EGFR mutation due to its simplicity and promptness with a high sensitivity.
authors: Department of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Zhao
authors: Qun-xin
authors: QX
authors: Peng
authors: Bing-hua
authors: BH
authors: Yang
authors: Da-ru
authors: DR
authors: Lu