RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the relationship of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation with clinical features of baselines as well as serum CEA level in patients with recurrent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods A total of 54 patients with first recurrence of advanced lung cancer who had received chemotherapy were included in this study. ADx-ARMS was performed to detect EGFR gene mutations in surgical specimens taken from the primary tumor. Serum CEA level was measured by the electrochemical luminescence method. Results The mutation rate of EGFR was significantly higher in females than in males (χ2= 11.868, P =0.006), with a total mutation rate of 60.8%in 106 patients. The rate was higher in adenocarcinoma than in other histological types(χ2=6.002,P=0.014), and significantly higher in non-smokers than in smokers (χ2= 8.502,P=0.004) and in the patients with serum CEA level over or equal to 5.0 ng/mL than those with CEA level less than 5.0 ng/mL (χ2=22.543,P=0.000). A multivariate analysis revealed that a higher serum CEA level at the time of disease recurrence was associated with EGFR gene mutations (P = 0.002). Conculsions Serum CEA level is closely associated with the presence of EGFR gene mutations in patients with first recurrence of advanced NSCLC. A higher serum CEA level at the time of disease recurrence is independently associated with EGFR gene mutations. CEA level can be used as a potential indicator to determine EGFR mutation.