ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the relationship between the mutation of EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) gene and the expressions of ERCC1 (excision repair cross-complementation group 1) and RRM1 (ribonucleotide reductase M1) proteins in adenocarcinoma tissues from patients with stages I-III lung adenocarcinoma. Methods: The status of EGFR gene mutation in exons 19 and 21 in adenocarcinoma tissues from 99 patients with stages I-III lung adenocarcinoma was detected by amplification refractory mutation system using fluorescence-based quantitative-PCR instrument. The expressions of ERCC1 and RRM1 proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: The mutation rate of EGFR gene in all patients was 46.5%. The females or the non-smokers had a higher mutation rate of EGFR gene (P 0.05). There was also no relationship between the expressions of ERCC1 and RRM1 proteins (P > 0.05). Conclusion: A low level of ERCC1 protein is more likely to be expressed in lung adenocarcinoma patients with EGFR mutation, who may benefit from the platinumbased chemotherapy. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.