OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mutation of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in the non-small cell lung carcinoma (LSCLG) patients with different genders and the relationship between the gender of LSCLG patients and the curative effects of gefitinib, an specific tyrosine kinase. METHODS: Tumor specimens were obtained from 135 NSCLC patients, 94 males (78.7% smoking) and 41 females (17.1% smoking), of which 20 received gefitinib treatment after the failure of chemotherapy, during operation and stored at -80 degrees C. The genomic DNA of the cancer tissues was extracted by using Trizol reagent. Nest-PCR was used to amplify the exons 18, 19, and 21 of the EGFR gene and the PCR products were purified by agarose electrophoresis and then sequenced. RESULTS: EGFR mutation was found in 29 of the 135 NSCLC patients (21.5%), with a mutation rate of 19.1% in the males and a mutation rate of 26.8% in the females (P = 0.344). The mutation types included G719C and G719V in exon 16, delE746 - 750, and delE746 - 751 in exon 19, and L858R and L861Qin exon 21. Among the 20 patients who received gefitinib treatment the disease control rate was 85% (17/20), being 76.9% in the male patients (10/13) and being 100% in the female patients (7/7) (P = 0.521). There were not significant differences in the mean time-to-progression (TTP) between the male and female patients (9 months vs. 14 months, P = 1), and between the patients with the wild type of EGFR gene and those with the mutated type of gene (9 months vs. 14 months, P = 1). CONCLUSION: There is no significant relationship between the curative effect of gefitinib on NSCLC and gender and EFGR status.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mutation of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in the non-small cell lung carcinoma (LSCLG) patients with different genders and the relationship between the gender of LSCLG patients and the curative effects of gefitinib, an specific tyrosine kinase. METHODS: Tumor specimens were obtained from 135 NSCLCpatients, 94 males (78.7% smoking) and 41 females (17.1% smoking), of which 20 received gefitinib treatment after the failure of chemotherapy, during operation and stored at -80 degrees C. The genomic DNA of the cancer tissues was extracted by using Trizol reagent. Nest-PCR was used to amplify the exons 18, 19, and 21 of the EGFR gene and the PCR products were purified by agarose electrophoresis and then sequenced. RESULTS:EGFR mutation was found in 29 of the 135 NSCLCpatients (21.5%), with a mutation rate of 19.1% in the males and a mutation rate of 26.8% in the females (P = 0.344). The mutation types included G719C and G719V in exon 16, delE746 - 750, and delE746 - 751 in exon 19, and L858R and L861Qin exon 21. Among the 20 patients who received gefitinib treatment the disease control rate was 85% (17/20), being 76.9% in the male patients (10/13) and being 100% in the female patients (7/7) (P = 0.521). There were not significant differences in the mean time-to-progression (TTP) between the male and female patients (9 months vs. 14 months, P = 1), and between the patients with the wild type of EGFR gene and those with the mutated type of gene (9 months vs. 14 months, P = 1). CONCLUSION: There is no significant relationship between the curative effect of gefitinib on NSCLC and gender and EFGR status.