Mutation of EGFR in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, a Regional Study in Upper Egypt

Management of non-small cell lung cancer has been changed dramatically since detection of EGFR mutation. The
rate of EGFR mutation in Upper Egypt is unknown. In this study; EGFR mutation in non-small cell lung cancer tissue was
evaluated and correlated with clinicopathological features of the tumors. Tissue samples of non-small cell lung cancer that had
been confirmed by histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations were evaluated for mutation of EGFR by
StripAssay. Thirty four patients with non-small cell lung cancer; 21 males and 13 females with a mean age of 55.94 years were
included in this study. The median tumor size was 6.0cm and more than half of the tumors were classified as T3. Fourteen
patients had N2 nodal stage and 19 patients had either malignant pleural effusion or distant metastasis. The majority of the tumors
were adenocarcinomas and half of them were grade II. The two year survival rate of the patients was 70.6% and the overall
survival was 58.8%. EGFR mutation was recorded in 44.1% of the tumors; all of which were adenocarcinoma variant. The
mutation was significantly more frequent in large sized tumors and it was relatively associated with poor survival. Mutation of
EGFR was not associated with patients` age, sex, tumor grade, T stage, N stage or status of distant metastasis. The rate of EGFR
gene mutation in non-small cell lung cancer in Upper Egypt is relatively high and target therapy based on these mutations could
improve patients` outcome.