Expression, overrepresentation and mutations of EGFR in early-stage lung cancer

Since the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in therapy of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) most studies on Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) aim at EGFR as prognostic and predictive factor in advanced NSCLC. While EGFR mutations are established as predictive and prognostic markers, the predictive and prognostic value of EGFR DNA-overrepresentation is discussed controversely. Moreover EGFR status measured by immunohistochemistry is not an appropriate predictor of clinical response. Our cohort analyzed expression, amplification and mutations of EGFR of 80 early stage NSCLC (m: f=49: 31, median age…