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Mutation analysis of EGFR and its correlation with the HPV in Indian cervical cancer patients

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

Cervical cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality particularly in developing countries. Somatic mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene is associated with increased sensitivity to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). In this study, the presence of EGFR mutations in cervical cancer and its correlation with HPV were identified. EGFR mutations were found in 31 out of 95 patients (32.63 %). Results showed the presence of EGFR mutations in 5.263 % of patients in exon 19. In exon 20, mutations were predominant in 25.26 % patients. While in exon 21, 8.421 % of patients had mutations. HPV, which is associated with cervical cancer development, was found in 95.78 % (HPVL1), 92.63 % (HPV16), and 3.15 % (HPV18) of patients. No correlation was found between HPV16 and EGFR mutations (p = 0.0616). Overall, mutations like V742R, Q787Q, Q849H, E866E, T854A, L858R, E872Q, and E688Q were found. Next, impact of TKI inhibitor (gefitinib) was checked with respect to presence or absence of mutation considering Q787Q mutation in exon 20 (G/A genotype) which is present in 25.2 % patients. Mutated cervical cancer cell lines showed higher sensitivity to gefitinib. Overall, this study suggests the importance of mutations in EGFR gene and indicates their relevance with respect to TKIs treatment in Indian cervical cancer patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosciences, Genome Biology Laboratory, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, India

    Rehana Qureshi, Shilpi Biswas, Ahmad Perwez, Afreen Naseem & Moshahid Alam Rizvi

  2. School of Studies in Zoology and Biotechnology, Vikram University, Ujjain, MP, India

    Himanshu Arora

  3. Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India

    Saima Wajid

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology LNJP/MMAC Campus, New Delhi, India

    Gauri Gandhi

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  1. Rehana Qureshi
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  2. Himanshu Arora
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Correspondence to Moshahid Alam Rizvi.

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This study was supported by the UGC- Dr. D.S. Kothari Postdoctoral fellowship, Government of India.

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Qureshi, R., Arora, H., Biswas, S. et al. Mutation analysis of EGFR and its correlation with the HPV in Indian cervical cancer patients. Tumor Biol. 37, 9089–9098 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-016-4789-4

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