New life sciences findings from G. Sartori and co-authors described.

According to recent research from Modena, Italy, "We tested 418 neoplasms along the whole spectrum of primary lung tumor histotypes, for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and K-ras mutations. Clinicopathologic data from 154 patients undergoing treatment with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) were retrospectively studied."

"A scoring system assigning a score for each positive or negative characteristic (+1, female sex, nonsmoking status, adenocarcinoma histotype, Asian ethnicity, and EGFR mutation; -1, current smoker and K-ras mutation; and 0, male sex, ex-smoker, nonadenocarcinoma histotype, and no mutations) was elaborated and tested with EGFR-TKI response. Salivary gland-type, mucin-rich, and neuroendocrine tumors do not harbor EGFR mutations. A subset of nonmucinous adenocarcinomas, not necessarily of the bronchioloalveolar type, is related to EGFR mutations. Three probability groups significantly correlating with response to EGFR-TKIs were identified. Of note, the addition of molecular results did not significantly change the predictive value obtained by the combination of clinicopathologic characteristics alone in this scoring system," wrote G. Sartori and colleagues (see also Life Sciences).

The researchers concluded: "K-ras mutations, significantly associated with the mucin-secreting type of adenocarcinoma, consistently predict lack of response in white patients."

Sartori and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Clinical Pathology (EGFR and K-ras Mutations Along the Spectrum of Pulmonary Epithelial Tumors of the Lung and Elaboration of a Combined Clinicopathologic and Molecular Scoring System to Predict Clinical Responsiveness to EGFR Inhibitors. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 2009;131(4):478-489).

For additional information, contact G. Rossi, Azienda Osped University Policinico Modena, Sect Pathology Anatomy, Via Pozzo 71, I-41100 Modena, Italy.

Publisher contact information for the American Journal of Clinical Pathology is: American Society Clinical Pathology, 2100 W Harrison St., Chicago, IL 60612, USA.

Keywords: Italy, Modena, Life Sciences, Lung Neoplasms, Lung Cancer, Oncology, Adenocarcinoma, Enzyme Research, Kinase, Tyrosine Kinase, Proteomics, Proteins, Clinical Pathology.

This article was prepared by Cancer Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Cancer Weekly via NewsRx.com.