Somatic mutations of EGFR gene in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Abstract

PURPOSE: Recently, the kinase domain mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene have been identified in non-small-cell lung cancer, and these mutations have been related to the clinical response to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Gefitinib treatment has also shown clinical benefits in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The aim of this study was to explore the possibility that SCCHN harbored the EGFR mutations. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this study, we analyzed EGFR gene in 41 SCCHN for the detection of the somatic mutations by PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: Overall, we detected three EGFR mutations (7.3%), and all of the mutations were the same in-frame deletion mutation in exon 19 (E746_A750del). CONCLUSION: These data indicated that in addition to non-small-cell lung cancer, SCCHN harbors the EGFR gene mutations, and suggested the rationale for the clinical applicability of gefinitib to SCCHN patients.