Focus on HER1/EGFR in pancreatic cancer

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How common is HER1/EGFR overexpression/amplification in pancreatic cancer?

Clinical studies indicate that pancreatic cancers overexpress HER1/EGFR and may carry amplifications of the EGFR gene.

Prevalence of HER1/EGFR overexpression/amplification in various clinical studies

Source	N	Definition of HER1/EGFR overexpression/EGFR amplification	Percentage of tumors with HER1/EGFR overexpression/EGFR amplification
Dancer et al, Oncol Rep, 2007¹⁷	32	Two-fold or greater amplification of the EGFR gene by FISH	65%
Bloomston et al, Dig Surg, 2006¹⁸	71	1+ or higher staining by IHC	69%
Thybusch-Bernhardt et al, Int J Surg Investig, 2001¹⁹	24	Positive staining by IHC	33%

Do genetic mutations influence HER1/EGFR activity in pancreatic cancer?

Preclinical and clinical research suggest that while HER1/EGFR signaling is dysregulated in pancreatic cancer, mutation is not the cause of signal dysfunction.

In a study of 9 pancreatic tumor cell lines and tissue from 31 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, only silent mutations (not affecting the receptor structure) of EGFR were observed²⁰
An additional 2007 study of 66 patients with inoperable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma showed a low (1.5%) incidence of mutations to the tyrosine kinase domain of HER1/EGFR²¹

Next Section: HER1/EGFR as a therapeutic target

References

Research HER Pathways

HER1/EGFR