Molecular assays in detecting EGFR gene aberrations: an updated HER2-dependent algorithm for interpreting gene signals; a short technical report.
Purpose: Among oncogenes that have already been identified and cloned, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) remains one of the most significant. Understanding its deregulation mechanisms improves critically patients' selection for personalized therapies based on modern molecular biology and oncology guidelines. Anti-EGFR targeted therapeutic strategies have been developed based on specific genetic profiles and applied in subgroups of patients suffering by solid cancers of different histogenetic origin. Detection of specific EGFR somatic mutations leads to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) application in subsets of them. Concerning EGFR gene numerical imbalances, identification of pure gene amplification is critical for targeting the molecule via monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In the current technical paper we demonstrate the main molecular methods applied in EGFR analyses focused also on new data in interpreting numerical imbalances based on ASCO/ACAP guidelines for HER2 in situ hybridization (ISH) clarifications.
Department of Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Biology, 401 General Army Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Evangelos
E
Tsiambas
Vasileios
V
Ragos
Alicia Y
AY
Lefas
Stavros N
SN
Georgiannos
Dimitrios N
DN
Rigopoulos
Georgios
G
Georgakopoulos
Athanasios
A
Stamatelopoulos
Dimitra
D
Grapsa
Konstantinos
K
Syrigos
D000465:Algorithms; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D057285:Precision Medicine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C512478:EGFR protein, human; D066246:ErbB Receptors