Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR): Mutational and protein expression analysis in gastric cancer

Background: Since specific epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) somatic mutations have been demonstrated to influence the response to anti-EGFR therapy in non-small cell lung cancer, EGFR gene mutational analysis of different types of neoplasm is under investigation. Patients and Methods: EGFR protein expression and gene mutations in exons 18, 19 and 21 were investigated in 49 gastric adenocarcinomas. Results: no specific EGFR gene mutations were detected, while EGFR positive staining was detected in 6% of the cases. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that in gastric adenocarcinoma, specific EGFR gene mutations are very rare or absent and the rate of EGFR protein expression is low.