Analysis of an EGFR mutation by PNA clamping method in lung carcinoid tumors

Abstract

Abstract Background Pulmonary carcinoid tumors consisting of typical carcinoid tumors (TC) and atypical carcinoid tumors (AC) are rare, accounting for 2–5% of all lung tumors. TC is considered a low-grade tumor with a rate of distant metastasis up to 12%. In contrast, ACs are more aggressive tumors, displaying a metastatic rate up to 70%. Surgery is the treatment of choice; however, the current treatment outcomes of metastatic lung carcinoids are discouraging. This study aimed to investigate the EGFR mutation using the PNA-mediated clamping method and to provide basic data for using EGFR-TK1 and its clinical implications. Materials and Methods A total of 14 cases that underwent surgery were diagnosed as carcinoid tumors and pathologically classified as TC and AC. The paraffin-embedded tissues were analyzed for EGFR mutations using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping technique. The mutant type was noted in the cases with a△Ct greater than 2.0. Result Of 14 cases, eight were AC and six cases were TC. No known EGFR mutation was detected with a△Ct less than 2.0. Conclusion The EGFR genotype determined using the PNA-mediated PCR clamping method was wild-type in all pulmonary carcinoid tumors. Therefore, the application of EGFR-TK1 is limited in pulmonary carcinoid tumors.

Keywords

• carcinoid
• egfr mutation
• lung
• pna clamping