EGFR activating mutations and their association with response to platinum-doublet chemotherapy in Brazilian non-small cell lung cancer patients

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze the frequency of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in Brazilian non-small cell lung cancer patients and to correlate these mutations with response to benefit of platinum-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our cohort consisted of prospective patients with NSCLCs who received chemotherapy (platinum derivates plus paclitaxel) at the [UNICAMP], Brazil. EGFR exons 18-21 were analyzed in tumor-derived DNA. Fifty patients were included in the study (25 with adenocarcinoma). EGFR mutations were identified in 6/50 (12 %) NSCLCs and in 6/25 (24 %) adenocarcinomas; representing the frequency of EGFR mutations in a mostly self-reported White (82.0 %) southeastern Brazilian population of NSCLCs. Patients with NSCLCs harboring EGFR exon 19 deletions or the exon 21 L858R mutation were found to have a higher chance of response to platinum-paclitaxel (OR 9.67 [95 % CI 1.03-90.41], p=0.047). We report the frequency of EGFR activating mutations in a typical southeastern Brazilian population with NSCLC, which are similar to that of other countries with Western European ethnicity. EGFR mutations seem to be predictive of a response to platinum-paclitaxel, and additional studies are needed to confirm or refute this relationship.Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Med Sci, Dept Internal Med, Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Dept Pediat, Campinas, SP, BrazilUniv Estadual Campinas, Sch Med Sci, Dept Anat Pathol, Campinas, SP, BrazilHarvard Univ, Beth Israel Deaconess Med Ctr, Sch Med, Div Hematol Oncol, Boston, MA 02215 USACtr Univ Lusiada, Sch Med, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of ScienceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP: 09/52574-