Inverse relationship between the length of the EGFR CA repeat polymorphism in lung carcinoma and protein expression of EGFR in the carcinoma

• Published in: Journal of surgical oncology Vol. 98; no. 6; pp. 457 - 461
• Main Authors: Suzuki, Masaya, Kageyama, Shinji, Shinmura, Kazuya, Okudela, Koji, Bunai, Tomoyasu, Nagura, Kiyoko, Igarashi, Hisaki, Kiyose, Shinichiro, Mori, Hiroki, Tao, Hong, Goto, Masanori, Takamochi, Kazuya, Mochizuki, Takahiro, Suzuki, Kazuya, Ohashi, Riuko, Ogawa, Hiroshi, Yamada, Takeshi, Niwa, Hiroshi, Tsuneyoshi, Toshihiro, Sugimura, Haruhiko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Aged; Carcinoma - genetics; Dinucleotide Repeats; DNA Mutational Analysis; Female; gene copy number; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; immunohistochemical analysis; Introns - genetics; Lung Neoplasms - genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Mutation; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - genetics; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism
• ISSN: 0022-4790; 1096-9098
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.21130

Background and Objectives There is a CA dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the first intron of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. Our aim was to examine the relationship between the CA repeat length in lung carcinoma and EGFR mutation, EGFR gene copy number, and EGFR protein expression level in the carcinoma. Methods We examined 168 lung carcinomas for the length of the CA repeat polymorphism by PCR–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis, for EGFR mutations by sequencing analysis, for EGFR gene copy number by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, and for EGFR protein expression by immunohistochemical analysis. Results When the carcinomas were divided into two groups according to the length of their CA repeat polymorphism, the EGFR protein expression level was found to be significantly higher in the shorter allele group than in the longer allele group (P = 0.0116), but its length was not associated with EGFR somatic mutations, high EGFR gene copy numbers, or clinicopathological factors, such as histological type or stage. Conclusions The results suggested that the length of the EGFR CA repeat polymorphism in lung carcinoma is inversely related with level of EGFR protein expression in the carcinoma. J. Surg. Oncol. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.