ABSTRACT
Purpose To investigate the expression and significance of epiderma1 growth factor receptor( EGFR)mutation-specific anti-bodies in 1ung adenocarcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemica1( IHC)technique was used to detect the expression of EGFR muta-tion-specific antibodies(EGFR-19,EGFR-21)and EGFR tota1 protein antibody(EGFR-P)in 171 cases of 1ung adenocarcinoma with resected specimens,and EGFR gene mutation was a1so performed by amp1ification refractory mutation aystem-PCR( ARMS-PCR). The expression of EGFR-19,EGFR-21 and EGFR-P mutant proteins was compared with EGFR gene mutation and their re1ationship with histo1ogica1 c1assification and c1inica1 characteristics were ana1yzed. Results The expression of EGFR mutant protein was corre1ated with the poor differentiation group inc1uding micropapi11ary and so1id predominant types( P=0. 021 ). EGFR-21 high expression was re1ated to p1eura1 invasion(P=0. 005). The coherence of IHC(with EGFR-19/21 antibodies)and ARMS-PCR was existed(Kappa>0. 4 ). Taking ARMS-PCR as a standard,the sensitivity and specificity of EGFR-19 and EGFR-21 were 65. 0% and 89. 4%, 70. 0% and 97. 6%,respective1y. Conclusions Expression of EGFR mutation-specific antibodies is associated with poor differentia-tion and p1eura1 invasion. It suggests a worse prognosis indicator in 1ung adenocarcinoma. Because of the coherence with ARMS-PCR, using IHC with mutation-specific antibodies to detect the mutant proteins of EGFR-19/21 may act as a pre1iminary screening method of EGFR gene mutation.