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Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Patients with HER2 Insertions in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

  • Translational Research and Biomarkers
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

The human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) genes have been described in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To help identify and treat these patients, we investigated the frequency, clinicopathologic characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients who had NSCLC with or without HER2 insertions.

Methods

The mutational status of the HER2 (exons 19–20) gene was assessed in a cohort of 1875 patients with NSCLC. All patients were also analyzed for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, BRAF, ALK, RET, and ROS1. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, smoking status, stage, histology, tumor size, differentiation, overall survival, and relapse-free survival, were collected.

Results

Among 1875 NSCLCs examined, 35 (1.9 %) were HER2 insertion. Compared with the HER2 insertion-negative group, patients with HER2 insertions were more likely to be never smokers (97.1 %, 34/35 patients, P < 0.001), significantly associated with female (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P < 0.001), adenocarcinoma (91.4 %, 32/35 patients, P = 0.01), and with a tendency to be no more than 60 years of age (71.4 %, 25/35 patients, P = 0.051).

Conclusions

HER2 insertion could define a distinct subset of NSCLC, which had a higher prevalence among females, nonsmokers, and adenocarcinoma. HER2 should be in the clinical genotyping of lung cancer, so patients may benefit from HER2-targeted therapy.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81330056, 81401886, 81401891, 81422029, 81472173, 81572253, and 81372525), the Key Project of Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (JGGG1302), Wu Jieping Medical Foundation (320.6750.14317) and Shen-Kang Center Project (SKMB1201), Grant from Shanghai Hospital Development Center (No. SHDC12012308), Grant from Health and Family Planning Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No. 2013ZYJB0301), Grant from Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No. 14495810800).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

      Shi Bu, Rui Wang, Yunjian Pan, Su Yu, Yihua Sun & Haiquan Chen

    2. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

      Shi Bu, Rui Wang, Yunjian Pan, Su Yu, Xuxia Shen, Yuan Li, Yihua Sun & Haiquan Chen

    3. Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

      Xuxia Shen & Yuan Li

    4. Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

      Rui Wang & Haiquan Chen

    5. Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

      Haiquan Chen

    6. Cancer Research Laboratory, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China

      Su Yu

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    1. Shi Bu
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    Correspondence to Yihua Sun or Haiquan Chen.

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    S. Bu and R. Wang contributed equally to this work.

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    Bu, S., Wang, R., Pan, Y. et al. Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Patients with HER2 Insertions in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 24, 291–297 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-5044-8

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-015-5044-8

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