NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Approximately 10% of adenocarcinomas of the lung bear mutations in the transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase ERBB2. This means that some cases of lung cancer may respond well to drugs like trastuzumab (Herceptin), which are used in the treatment of breast cancer.
Attempts to manage lung cancers with trastuzumab or other kinase inhibitors have yielded disappointing results, Dr. P. Andrew Futreal and colleagues point out in the September 30th issue of Nature. However, when they sequenced the ERBB2 gene of 120 primary lung tumors, they found that five of the 51 adenocarcinomas were carrying mutations. It is likely that these mutations activate the ERBB2 kinase, the authors note.
They also found mutations in the gene encoding epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) in two of the lung cancer specimens. The EGFR inhibitor gefitinib may be a therapeutic option for patients with this mutation.
This research “gives you another way to look at what was obviously a heterogeneous group of patients,” Dr. Futreal, at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, UK, told Reuters Health. “It provides a molecular handle to stratify patients with lung cancer, to understand how their cancers are different from each other.”
A number of kinase and EGFR inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials, Dr. Futreal observed. So “just as the ERBB2 inhibitor Herceptin is being given to breast cancer patients whose tumors amplify the gene, there may be a similar situation in lung cancer patients,” he said. However, instead of testing the enzyme inhibitors in all lung cancer patients, better results are likely to be obtained in those with ERBB2 or EGFR mutations.
Source: Nature 2004;431:525-526. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Membrane Proteins: Receptors, Cell Surface: Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor: Receptors, Gastrointestinal Hormone: Receptors, Growth Factor: Receptors, Peptide: Genes, erbB-2: Genes, erbBCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
