Shi Bu1,2, Rui Wang1,2,3, Yunjian Pan1,2, Su Yu1,2,4, Xuxia Shen2,5, Yuan Li2,5, Yihua Sun6,7, Haiquan Chen8,9,10,11. 1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. 2. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. 3. Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. 4. Cancer Research Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. 5. Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. 6. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. sun_yihua76@hotmail.com. 7. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. sun_yihua76@hotmail.com. 8. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China. hqchen1@yahoo.com. 9. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. hqchen1@yahoo.com. 10. Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China. hqchen1@yahoo.com. 11. Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. hqchen1@yahoo.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) genes have been described in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To help identify and treat these patients, we investigated the frequency, clinicopathologic characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients who had NSCLC with or without HER2 insertions. METHODS: The mutational status of the HER2 (exons 19-20) gene was assessed in a cohort of 1875 patients with NSCLC. All patients were also analyzed for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ALK, RET, and ROS1. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, smoking status, stage, histology, tumor size, differentiation, overall survival, and relapse-free survival, were collected. RESULTS: Among 1875 NSCLCs examined, 35 (1.9 %) were HER2 insertion. Compared with the HER2 insertion-negative group, patients with HER2 insertions were more likely to be never smokers (97.1 %, 34/35 patients, P < 0.001), significantly associated with female (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P < 0.001), adenocarcinoma (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P = 0.01), and with a tendency to be no more than 60 years of age (71.4 %, 25/35 patients, P = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS: HER2 insertion could define a distinct subset of NSCLC, which had a higher prevalence among females, nonsmokers, and adenocarcinoma. HER2 should be in the clinical genotyping of lung cancer, so patients may benefit from HER2-targeted therapy.
BACKGROUND: The humanepidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) genes have been described in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To help identify and treat these patients, we investigated the frequency, clinicopathologic characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients who had NSCLC with or without HER2 insertions. METHODS: The mutational status of the HER2 (exons 19-20) gene was assessed in a cohort of 1875 patients with NSCLC. All patients were also analyzed for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ALK, RET, and ROS1. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, smoking status, stage, histology, tumor size, differentiation, overall survival, and relapse-free survival, were collected. RESULTS: Among 1875 NSCLCs examined, 35 (1.9 %) were HER2 insertion. Compared with the HER2 insertion-negative group, patients with HER2 insertions were more likely to be never smokers (97.1 %, 34/35 patients, P < 0.001), significantly associated with female (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P < 0.001), adenocarcinoma (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P = 0.01), and with a tendency to be no more than 60 years of age (71.4 %, 25/35 patients, P = 0.051). CONCLUSIONS:HER2 insertion could define a distinct subset of NSCLC, which had a higher prevalence among females, nonsmokers, and adenocarcinoma. HER2 should be in the clinical genotyping of lung cancer, so patients may benefit from HER2-targeted therapy.