EGFR and K-ras mutations along the spectrum of pulmonary epithelial tumors of the lung and elaboration of a combined clinicopathologic and molecular scoring system to predict clinical responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors

Am J Clin Pathol. 2009 Apr;131(4):478-89. doi: 10.1309/AJCPH0TRMPXVZW2F.

Abstract

We tested 418 neoplasms along the whole spectrum of primary lung tumor histotypes for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-ras mutations. Clinicopathologic data from 154 patients undergoing treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were retrospectively studied. A scoring system assigning a score for each positive or negative characteristic (+1, female sex, nonsmoking status, adenocarcinoma histotype, Asian ethnicity, and EGFR mutation; -1, current smoker and K-ras mutation; and 0, male sex, ex-smoker, nonadenocarcinoma histotype, and no mutations) was elaborated and tested with EGFR-TKI response. Salivary gland-type, mucin-rich, and neuroendocrine tumors do not harbor EGFR mutations. A subset of nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, not necessarily of the bronchioloalveolar type, is related to EGFR mutations. Three probability groups significantly correlating with response to EGFR-TKIs were identified. Of note, the addition of molecular results did not significantly change the predictive value obtained by the combination of clinicopathologic characteristics alone in this scoring system. K-ras mutations, significantly associated with the mucin-secreting type of adenocarcinoma, consistently predict lack of response in white patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / antagonists & inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genes, ras / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Infant
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / ethnology
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / genetics*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • ErbB Receptors