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Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in East European non-small cell lung cancer patients

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Abstract

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations are recurrently observed in non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), and it has been found that they may serve as specific therapeutic targets. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of EGFR gene mutations in NSCLCs in an East European (Bulgarian) population in different histological subtypes, in cytological versus histological samples and in primary versus metastatic lesions.

Methods

In this study 1427 NSCLC samples were included. DNA was extracted from either formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues or cytology specimens and analyzed for the presence of 29 recurrent EGFR gene mutations using SARMS PCR.

Results

EGFR gene mutations were found to occur significantly more often in female than in male patients (19.4 % vs. 5.4 %; p < 0.001), in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas or other histological subtypes (12.5 % vs. 6.2 %, and 7.6 %, respectively; p = 0.009), and in never smokers than in ex-smokers and current smokers (22.9 % vs. 8.5 % and 4.9 %, respectively; p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the occurrence of EGFR gene mutations in primary tumors compared to metastases (7.9 % vs. 11.2 %; p = 0.092), or in FFPE samples compared to cytological samples (8.9 % vs. 8.1 %; p = 0.813).

Conclusions

Our data show that the overall frequency of EGFR gene mutations in lung adenocarcinomas in the East European cohort studied is within the range of that observed in North American and West European populations, but that its frequency in squamous cell carcinomas is higher than that in any population reported to date. All specimens appeared to be suitable for EGFR gene mutation analysis, irrespective nature or origin.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Radka Budinova for technical assistance with some of the samples. The authors express special thanks to all the referring physicians. Astra Zeneca has provided the kits for EGFR gene mutation testing.

Conflict of interests

DM and AS do not have any conflicts of interest. SB and YS have received honoraria from Astra Zeneca for consultancies regarding EGFR testing in Bulgaria.

Ethical standards

The authors declare that the experiments comply with the current laws of the country (Bulgaria) in which they were performed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Genetic Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital “Maichin Dom”, 2 Zdrave str, 1421, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Stoyan Naidenov Bichev & Alexey Slavkov Savov

  2. Department of Pneumology, University Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases “Saint Sofia”, Medical University of Sofia, 19 Acad. Ivan Geshov blvd, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Dora Marinova Marinova

  3. Department of Pathology, University Hospital for Pulmonary Diseases “St. Sofia”, 19 Acad. Ivan Geshov blvd, 1431, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Yanina Georgieva Slavova

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  1. Stoyan Naidenov Bichev
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  2. Dora Marinova Marinova
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Correspondence to Dora Marinova Marinova.

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Bichev, S.N., Marinova, D.M., Slavova, Y.G. et al. Epidermal growth factor receptor mutations in East European non-small cell lung cancer patients. Cell Oncol. 38, 145–153 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13402-014-0211-7

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