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Focus on HER1/EGFR in lung cancer
Slide Deck
View the HER1/EGFR slide deck
How common is HER1/EGFR overexpression in lung cancer?
Several studies have examined the frequency of HER1/EGFR overexpression in NSCLC.
- A landmark 1993 study by Rusch et al (N=88) indicated that 93% of NSCLC tissue samples expressed HER1/EGFR5
- However, in other studies, overexpression of the receptor has been seen in a smaller but substantial fraction—up to 60%—of NSCLC tumors5,12,15,16
Prevalence of HER1/EGFR overexpression in various clinical studies
| Source | N | Histologic subtype | Percentage of tumors overexpressing HER1/EGFR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onn et al, Clin Cancer Res, 200415 | 111 | Unselected | 60% |
| Rusch et al, Cancer Res, 19935 | 44 | Unselected | 45% |
| Ohtsuka et al, J Thorac Oncol, 200616 | 48 | Adenocarcinoma | 40% |
| Selvaggi et al, Ann Oncol, 200412 | 48 | Unselected | 37% |
Do levels of HER1/EGFR expression change as NSCLC progresses?
Clinical research indicates that HER1/EGFR levels may increase as the stage of NSCLC becomes more advanced.
- A Japanese study of patients with stage I–IV NSCLC (N=74) showed that HER1/EGFR expression levels were significantly higher in stage IV disease than in either stage I (P=0.049) or stage II (P=0.040) disease4
- This finding suggests that HER1/EGFR expression may increase as a tumor progresses
