Frequency of EGFR mutations in lung adenocarcinoma with malignant pleural effusion: Implication of cancer biological behaviour regulated by EGFR mutation

• Published in: Journal of international medical research Vol. 42; no. 5; pp. 1110 - 1117
• Main Authors: Zou, JianYong, Bella, Amos Ela, Chen, ZhenGuang, Han, XiangQian, Su, ChunHua, Lei, YiYan, Luo, HongHe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma - genetics; Adenocarcinoma - pathology; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - genetics; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung - pathology; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - pathology; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation - genetics; Neoplasm Staging; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - genetics; Pleural Effusion, Malignant - pathology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Prognosis; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics; Retrospective Studies; EGFR mutation; malignant pleural effusion; Lung adenocarcinoma
• DOI: 10.1177/0300060514539273
• ISSN: 0300-0605

Objective A retrospective single-centre study to compare the clinical features of patients with lung adenocarcinoma with and without epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations. Methods Pretreatment medical records of patients with lung adenocarcinoma were reviewed. DNA was extracted from paraffin wax-embedded tumour tissue for analysis of EGFR mutations. Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) was diagnosed by cytopathological testing of pleural fluid. Results EGFR mutations (19-Del and L858R) were recorded in 81/283 patients (28.6%). MPE was found in 42/283 patients (14.8%). In patients with stage IV disease, the frequency of EGFR mutations was higher in those with MPE than in those without MPE. EGFR mutations were independently associated with female sex, no history of smoking and presence of MPE. Conclusions There was a positive association between EGFR mutation and the presence of MPE. EGFR mutations may play an important role in the formation of MPE.