title: Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in non- small cell lung cancers in a multiethnic malaysian patient population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in non- small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are predictive of response to EGFR-targeted therapy in advanced stages of disease. This study aimed to determine the frequency of EGFR mutations in NSCLCs and to correlate their presence with clinical characteristics in multiethnic Malaysian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective study, EGFR mutations in exons 18, 19, 20 and 21 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy specimens of consecutive NSCLC patients were asessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGFR mutations were detected in NSCLCs from 55 (36.4%) of a total of 151 patients, being significantly more common in females (62.5%) than in males (17.2%) [odds ratio (OR), 8.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3.77-16.98; p<0.001] and in never smokers (62.5%) than in ever smokers (12.7%) (OR, 11.50; 95%CI, 5.08-26.03; p<0.001). Mutations were more common in adenocarcinoma (39.4%) compared to non-adenocarcinoma NSCLCs (15.8%) (p=0.072). The mutation rates in patients of different ethnicities were not significantly different (p=0.08). Never smoking status was the only clinical feature that independently predicted the presence of EGFR mutations (adjusted OR, 5.94; 95%CI, 1.94- 18.17; p=0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Malaysian patients with NSCLC, the EGFR mutation rate was similar to that in other Asian populations. EGFR mutations were significantly more common in female patients and in never smokers. Never smoking status was the only independent predictor for the presence of EGFR mutations.
authors: Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : liamck@ummc.edu.my.
authors: Chong-Kin
authors: CK
authors: Liam
authors: Hwong-Ruey
authors: HR
authors: Leow
authors: Soon-Hin
authors: SH
authors: How
authors: Yong-Kek
authors: YK
authors: Pang
authors: Keong-Tiong
authors: KT
authors: Chua
authors: Boon-Khaw
authors: BK
authors: Lim
authors: Nai-Lang
authors: NL
authors: Lai
authors: Yeh-Chunn
authors: YC
authors: Kuan
authors: Jayalakshmi
authors: J
authors: Pailoor
authors: Pathmanathan
authors: P
authors: Rajadurai
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D059645:Mutation Rate; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors