Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in 510 Finnish non--small-cell lung cancer patients.
BACKGROUND
Among the driver gene mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer, mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are the most important because of their predictive role in selecting patients eligible for targeted therapy. Our aim was to study EGFR mutations in a Finnish non-small-cell lung cancer cohort of 528 patients.


METHODS
Mutation testing was conducted on DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tumor material using the following real-time polymerase chain reaction-based kits: Therascreen EGFR PCR Kit and cobas EGFR Mutation Test.


RESULTS
EGFR mutation frequency was 11.4% and all positive cases were adenocarcinomas, of which a majority had an acinar predominant pattern. Mutations were seen significantly more often in females and never-smokers than in males and smokers. The most frequent mutations were L858R in exon 21 and deletions in exon 19. Overall survival of the patients, not treated with EGFR inhibitor, did not differ between EGFR mutation-positive and EGFR mutation-negative patients.


CONCLUSIONS
EGFR mutation profile in this Finnish non-small-cell lung cancer cohort resembles in many respect with that of other Western European cohorts, even though the overall frequency of mutations is slightly higher. We show the occurrence of EGFR mutations in patients with occupational asbestos exposure and also in those diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who have not been often investigated before.
*Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki; †Department of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; ‡Clinical Laboratory, Lab21 Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and §Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Heart and Lung Center, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
Satu
S
Mäki-Nevala
Mikko
M
Rönty
Mike
M
Morel
Maria
M
Gomez
Zoe
Z
Dawson
Virinder Kaur
VK
Sarhadi
Aino
A
Telaranta-Keerie
Aija
A
Knuuttila
Sakari
S
Knuutila
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D015996:Survival Rate
D001194:Asbestos; D066246:ErbB Receptors