ABSTRACT
Purpose To explore the application and characteristics of liquid-based cytology samples of non-small cell lung cancer for detection of EGFR mutations by ARMS method.Methods The positive samples of liquid-based cytology were collected and the DNA of samples was extracted to detect the EGFR mutations by ARMS method and the analyze the association with clinical features,types of samples,pathological types and the contents of tumor cells,etc.Results There were 117 genetic mutations detected in 279 liquid-based cytology specimens,with the mutation rate of 41.9％.The mutation rate of adencarcinoma was 44.7％ and the other was 11.3％.When the tumor ceils in cytology samples were abundant,medium,small clusters and few,EGFR gene mutation rate were 53％,44％,45％ and 44％ respectively.19Del was 51.9％.Exon 21L858R missense mutation occurred at 39.4％ of EGFR mutations.Conclusion All liquid-based cytology of non-small cell lung cancer samples are adequate for EGFR mutation analysis.In the tumor cell-rich samples EGFR gene mutation rate is higher than that of the less tumor cells samples.19Del is the most common type of EGFR mutations.