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At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

PubMed1999

Ultrasonography as adjunct to mammography in the evaluation of breast tumors.

PURPOSE: The aims of the study was to analyze the features of cancers missed as tumor on ultrasonography (US), to determine the predictive power of US tumor descriptors in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast tumors, to evaluate US as adjunct to mammography, and to assess the validity and reliability of mammographic, US, and combined interpretation of breast tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospectively recorded mammographic and US findings of 355 malignant breast tumors among 2,985 consecutive patients who underwent breast US were compared with clinical findings and pathologic subtypes of the tumors. In addition, a 10-year material of 95 invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs) were investigated. Three retrospective studies assessed the validity and reliability of mammographic, US, and combined interpretation of 200 palpable mammographically noncalcified breast masses by four radiologists. RESULTS: A total of 97.5% of the palpable and 67.9% of the nonpalpable malignant neoplasms were detected as tumor on US. Most carcinomas missed as tumor on US were ductal carcinomas in situ (DCISs) and microinvasive ductal cancers dominated by DCIS manifesting with suspicious calcifications on mammography. Irregular shape, irregular contour, extensively hypoechogenicity, hyperechoic rim (halo), and distortion of the surrounding tissue were the US features with the highest odds of predicting carcinomas. A pseudocapsule is the strongest predictor of a benign tumor, the odds of cancer being 0.03 in nonpalpable and 0.08 in palpable breast tumors. A negative predictive value of 100% in palpable and 96% in nonpalpable tumors was achieved using strict US criteria. In patients with ILC, US measurements predicted tumor size more accurately than mammography. US as adjunct to mammography correctly diagnosed ("upgraded") 9.5% of tumors with benign or indeterminate mammographic diagnoses. Excluding mammographically conclusive malignant tumors and carcinomas presenting with microcalcifications. US correctly upgraded 42% of the palpable and 44% of the nonpalpable cancers. Combined mammographic-US interpretation offers the highest diagnostic performance in noncalcified breast tumors. The lowest interobserver agreement was found in US interpretation. CONCLUSION: The impact of US in mixed cancer populations is limited. US is, however, a valuable adjunct to mammography in patients with nonconclusive mammographic findings. Negative predictive values on US approaching 100% may be achieved using strict criteria for a benign diagnosis. A considerable interobserver variation in the US interpretation is a limiting factor for the potential of breast US in the differentiation of benign and malignant breast tumors.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1999

Comparative study of conservative resection and radical operation for thyroid carcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality and morbidity in management of thyroid cancers by total lobectomy (C-R) and near-total thyroidectomy (R-O) and to relate pathological subtype to prognosis. DESIGN: A retrospective study of patients with thyroid cancers that were managed during an eleven-year period. SETTING: Jos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: A total of 44 patients who underwent C-R (n = 26) and R-O (n = 18) were studied. INTERVENTION: A total of 509 goitrous specimens including the excised thyroid cancers were histopathologically studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cases were analysed for mortality and morbidity data in the two groups during a partial follow-up period of two years. RESULTS: Mortality figures for C-R was 4% versus 11 for R-O. Postoperative haemorrhage occurred in 14% for C-R versus six for R-O. Similarly, bilateral vocal cord paralysis occurred in 11% versus 22; voice changes in 11% versus 33, transitory hypoparathyroidism 8% versus 50, local recurrence in 18% versus eleven. Hypothyroidism occurred in all patients undergoing R-O and stitch granuloma in 11% of patients in C-R group versus six for R-O. Follicular carcinoma constituted 59% of the total number thyroid cancers with papillary cancer constituting 35%. CONCLUSION: C-R is recommended as the operation of choice for thyroid cancers.

Adenocarcinoma, Follicular↗

PubMed2001

Guillain Barré syndrome.

Guillain Barré syndrome is one of the best examples of a post infectious immune disease and offers insights into the mechanism of tissue damage in other more common autoimmune diseases. Controlled epidemiological studies have linked it to infection with Campylobacter jejuni in addition to other viruses including cytomegalovirus and Epstein Barr virus. The syndrome includes several pathological subtypes, of which the most common is a multifocal demyelinating disorder of the peripheral nerves in close association with macrophages. Evidence from histological examination of peripheral nerve biopsy and postmortem samples suggests that both cell mediated and humoral mechanisms are involved in the pathogenesis. Immunological studies suggest that at least one third of patients have antibodies against nerve gangliosides, which in some cases also react with constituents of the liposaccharide of C jejuni. In the Miller Fisher variant of the disease, these antiganglioside antibodies have been shown to produce neuromuscular block, and may in part explain the clinical signs of that disorder. Treatment with both intravenous immunoglobulin and plasma exchange reduces the time taken for recovery to occur, although mortality remains around 8%, with about 20% of patients remaining disabled.

Autoantibodies↗

PubMed2002

December 2001: rapidly progressive motor weakness, starting in pregnancy.

A 25-year-old woman presented with rapidly progressive motor weakness necessitating ventilation 10 months after the onset. Despite immunosuppressive therapy she died 27 months later, without developing significant extramotor features. Autopsy revealed evidence of both upper and lower motor neuron loss with wide-spread motor and extramotor intraneuronal basophilic inclusions, most of which did not show ubiquitin immunoreactivity. Motor neuron disease with basophilic inclusions appears to be a rare, but distinctive pathological subtype, with most reported cases occurring sporadically in young women and having a rapid clinical progression.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Latency between symptom onset and diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors: an Eastern Canadian geographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Tumors of the central nervous system are now thought to be the most common form of childhood malignancies. Previous studies suggested that delays might exist between symptom onset and the diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors. In the Maritime Provinces of Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island), there are only two pediatric neurosurgical centers; therefore, the Maritime Provinces are ideal for study of the epidemiological features of pediatric brain tumors. The aim of this study was to examine the incidence rates of pediatric brain tumors in eastern Canada, as well as factors important in their diagnosis. METHODS: We collected data on 104 cases during a 6-year period (1995-2000), both prospectively and retrospectively, for the Maritime pediatric neuro-oncology database. All < or =17-year-old patients in the Maritime Provinces with pediatric brain tumors were treated in one of two neurosurgical centers (St. John, New Brunswick, or Halifax, Nova Scotia). RESULTS: The incidence rate for pediatric brain tumors was 4.28/100,000 child-yr. Tumors were more common among male patients and involved the infratentorial compartment in 65% of the total cases. The two most common types of tumors were astrocytomas (37%) and medulloblastomas (21%). The mean time to diagnosis was 7.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.99-9.67 mo), and only 41% of our cases were correctly diagnosed within three visits to various physicians. Tumors located in the brainstem required significantly longer times for diagnosis, compared with those located elsewhere (mean, 11.76 mo [95% CI, 3.13-20.39 mo] versus 6.57 mo [95% CI, 4.20-8.95 mo]; P = 0.014). Medulloblastomas as a group exhibited significantly shorter diagnostic times, compared with other pathological subtypes (mean, 3.78 mo [95% CI, 1.97-5.59 mo] versus 8.35 mo [95% CI, 5.40-11.3 mo]; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The incidence rates for pediatric brain tumors in the Maritime Provinces are similar to those of other reported series. The correct diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors still generally requires a number of months and frequent visits to various physicians. The majority of pediatric brainstem tumors might no longer be of a diffuse malignant nature but might represent more-focal benign lesions.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

[Development of human renal cell carcinoma (RCC)--the responsible genes for the development of hereditary and sporadic human RCCs].

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is classified into six cell pathological types by the Thoenes classification (5). Deletion of DNA (loss of heterozeigosity: LOH) is seen with a high frequency in human RCC of all 6 types at chromosome 3p 14-25. The presence of at least three tumor suppressor genes at this domain has been pointed out. The VHL gene, one of the tumor suppressor genes (TSG), was identified in 1993 at chromosome 3p25-26 as the gene responsible for VHL disease. As a consequence, it was demonstrated that inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) gene is responsible for sporadic clear cell RCC. Activating mutations of c-Met receptor type tyrosine kinase has been demonstrated in papillary renal cell carcinoma families. Possible involvement of the FHIT tumor suppressor gene, located at the fragile site (FRA3B) of chromosome 3p14, has been detected in sporadic RCC. Recently, methylation of RASSF1A at chromosome 3p21.3 was pointed out in sporadic RCC. Thus, it has become apparent that chromosome 3p14-25 3 has possible TSGs for RCC. Furthermore, it was pointed out in April that germline mutation of fumarate hydratase, a Krebs cycle enzyme (FH), is present in multiple cutaneous and uterine leiomyomatosis families that develop papillary RCC. The functional significance in these genes for the development of RCC is still not apparent, except for the VHL gene. Thus, there is still a long way to go before we find all responsible TSGs in all pathological subtypes in sporadic RCC.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Ischemic stroke: transesophageal echocardiographic findings].

INTRODUCTION: Since its initial application in 1976, the transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) has improved the detection of cardiovascular emboligenic sources. Even though its indication in patients with stroke is still controversial, its use has contributed to the identification of potential embolic stroke sources. OBJECTIVE: To describe the transesophageal echocardiographic findings in ischemic stroke patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed case series of 162 TEE performed on a total of 576 ischemic events dated between 01/01/99 to 01/05/01. The required information was collected prospectively in the Stroke Data Bank of the Neurology Department at Policl nico Bancario in Buenos Aires. RESULTS: TEE was carried out in 162 (28.1%) cases. Of theses cases 13% belonged to the clinical subtype TACI, 37% to PACI, 17% to POCI, and 37% to LACI subtype. Pathologic findings corresponded to cardiac level: spontaneous contrast in 29% of the cases, and to aortic level: plaques grade IV in 34% and debris in 13% of the cases. According to the etiology of ischemic stroke, 67 patients had been registered under the diagnosis of lacunar infarct (60 in the anterior region and 7 in the posterior region), 93 had been diagnosed medium and grand artery infarct (73 in the anterior region and 29 in the posterior region), and 2 had remained unclassified. Emboligenic sources were found in 69.5% of TACI, 65% of PACI, 52% of POCI, and 53% of LACI. CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of aortic artheroembolic pathology was detected in the population under study. However, spontaneous contrast was the echocardiographic phenomenon more frequently reported. It is to be pointed out the presence of potential cardiac and/or aortic emboligenic sources in 48% of the population with lacunar infarct

Brain Ischemia↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Possible benefits of high-dose chemotherapy as intensive consolidation in patients with high-risk rhabdomyosarcoma who achieve complete remission with conventional chemotherapy.

The authors reviewed their single-center experience with autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) in 22 patients with advanced rhabdomyosarcoma. Pathological subtypes included alveolar (n = 7) and embryonal types (n = 15). The conditioning regimen primarily consisted of etoposide, carboplatin, and melphalan. Fourteen, five, and three patients underwent SCT in CR, PR, and PD, respectively. Eight patients are currently alive without evidence of disease. The overall survival rate at 5 years was 70% for 14 patients who were in CR at the time of SCT. This limited experience warrants the examination of SCT in a prospective study.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Multiple system atrophy.

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic neurodegenerative disorder that usually manifests in the early fifties and progresses relentlessly with a mean survival of 9 years. Clinically, MSA is dominated by autonomic/urogenital failure which may be associated with either levodopa unresponsive parkinsonism in 80p.cent of cases (MSA-P subtype) or with cerebellar ataxia in 20p.cent of cases (MSA-C subtype). Pathologically, MSA is characterized by a neuronal multisystem degeneration and abnormal glial cytoplasmic inclusions containing alpha-synuclein aggregates. Pharmacological treatment of motor features is disappointing except for a transient L-Dopa response in a minority of MSA-P patients. In contrast, autonomic and urogenital features of MSA should be identified early on because they can be treated effectively in many instances. To improve the outcome of this devastating disorder which causes early severe and progressive disability more research into etiology, pathogenesis, early diagnosis and therapeutic management is necessary. Several research groups have been formed in Europe (EMSA-SG, NNIPPS) and USA (NAMSA-SG) to address these unmet needs.

Antiparkinson Agents↗

PubMed1992

[Primary chondrosarcoma of the lung].

Five cases of primary chondrosarcoma, a rare tumor of the lung, are reported. The diagnosis should be made by pathology. Some conditions should be ruled out: 1. tumor from the chest wall, 2. chondrosarcoma of bone discovered after operation, 3. ovarian teratoma found prior to operation, 4. patient with history of hamartoma of the lung, and 5. atypical pathology. Pathologic subtyping is not prognostic. The main cause of death was intralobar spread. It never gives rise to extrathoracic metastasis and should be treated by surgery.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Nodular fasciitis: clinical characteristics and preoperative diagnosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Because of its rapid growth, hypercellularity, and brisk mitotic rate, nodular fasciitis (NF) is probably the most common benign mesenchymal tumor that is misdiagnosed as a sarcoma, often leading to unnecessary and overly aggressive therapy. METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated the characteristics of 92 well-documented cases of NF treated from 1988 to 2001. Gender, age, location, size, and clinical symptoms were analyzed, as was the accuracy of preoperative diagnosis. RESULTS: Females were predominant (male-to-female ratio, 1:1.71; p = 0.006, binomial distribution). Accurate preoperative diagnosis was made in only 14.1%, but this rate improved in recent years (p = 0.034, chi-squared test for trend). The pathologic subtype of NF did not correlate with the duration of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should include NF in the differential diagnosis of rapidly growing subcutaneous tumors and not rush to overly aggressive therapy.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Human herpesvirus type 8 genotypes in iatrogenic, classic and AIDS-associated Kaposi's sarcoma from Greece.

BACKGROUND: Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) is consistently found in almost all observed Kaposi's sarcomas (KS), whether AIDS-associated, iatrogenic or classic. To our knowledge no data are available on the genetic polymorphism of HHV-8 from Greece. We report the study of 15 renal transplant recipients with KS, 5 with AIDS-associated KS, 11 with classic KS and 60 healthy individuals from Greece. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was carried out on DNA extracted from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) or KS cutaneous biopsies, using specific primers for the HHV-8, KS330 fragment from ORF-26 (233 bp) and the highly variable region (VR1) from ORF-K1 (363 bp). RESULTS: HHV-8 DNA was detected in 30 out of 31 (97%) KS cases, regardless of their clinico-pathological subtype and in 10 out of 60 (16.7%) healthy individuals. Sequencing of the ORF26 fragment demonstrated that the 40 HHV-8 strains were of the A and C sub-types. Furthermore, sequencing of the ORF-K1 showed that these HHV-8 strains of Greek origin were of the A1, A4, C1 or C3 sub-type. CONCLUSION: Our findings imply a possible link of the C3 subtype of HHV-8 in renal transplant-related KS cases (iatrogenic KS) in Greece, a link of the A4 subtype in AIDS-associated KS cases and a potential involvement of the A1 subtype in Greek classic KS incidences, as HHV-8 strains among healthy individual tested belong to the C1, C3 or A1 subtypes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlation of serum VEGF levels with clinical stage, therapy efficacy, tumor metastasis and patient survival in ovarian cancer.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been shown to play an important role in tumor growth and progression. However, the clinical implications of VEGF expression in ovarian tumors are not fully understood. We therefore investigated the serum level of VEGF in patients with ovarian tumors and explored the potential use of VEGF as a tumor marker for diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of human ovarian cancer. The serum VEGF (sVEGF) levels in 120 patients with ovarian carcinoma, 25 patients with benign ovarian tumor and 90 healthy female blood donors were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in this study. We also determined the levels of sVEGF in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer before and after surgery. Our results showed that: (i) ovarian cancer patients had significantly higher levels of sVEGF compared to those of patients with benign ovarian tumor or those of healthy individuals. As a cut-off at 100 pg/ml, the sensitivity and specificity of sVEGF levels for diagnosing ovarian carcinoma were 77.1% and 87%, respectively. (ii) sVEGF levels were markedly elevated in patients with advanced stage or poorly-differentiated ovarian cancer, as well as in those with more ascites (>500 ml), as compared to patients with early stage and well-differentiated ovarian cancer, or those with less ascites (<500 ml). However, there was no significant difference in sVEGF levels among different pathological subtypes of ovarian carcinoma. (iii) The post-operative sVEGF levels were significantly lower than the pre-operative sVEGF levels. (iv) We measured significantly higher levels of sVEGF in patients with metastasis as compared to patients lacking metastasis. Lastly (v) the average survival-time in patients with higher levels of sVEGF (>100 pg/ml) was 28 months, while the average survival-time in patients with lower levels of sVEGF (<100 pg/ml) was 35 months, indicating that the elevations in sVEGF level are correlated with patient survival and tumor metastasis in ovarian carcinoma. These data suggest that VEGF may be a useful serological biomarker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian cancer, for follow-up of ovarian tumor metastasis and for monitoring the efficacy of therapy in patients with ovarian carcinomas.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Pleurodesis as a palliative treatment of advanced lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the success rate of management of advanced. Lung cancer patients with malignant pleural effusion comparing talc powder with tetracycline for pleurodesis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report 60 patients with lung cancer associated with malignant pleural effusion treated in the department of surgery NCI, Cairo University, between January. 1998 and February, 2003. Patients were Divided Into Three Groups: Group I: Pleurodesis using tetracycline (20 patients). Group II: Pleurodesis using talc slurry (20 patients). Group III: Pleurodesis using talc insufflation (20 patients). Good response to pleurodesis is defined as no pleural fluid re-accumulation or minimal pleural fluid re-accumulation not causing symptoms or requiring further aspiration for one month. RESULTS: There were 34 males and 26 females, mean age was 54 years with range of 42-66 years, right sided effusion was present in 32 patients (53%) and left sided in 28 patients (47%). Pathological subtypes were adenocarcinoma in 32 patients, squamous cell carcinoma in 18 and undifferentiated carcinoma in 10 patients. In group I, 12 patients (60%) showed good response to intrapleural tetracycline, 15 patients (75%) responded in group II, while 17 patients (85%) showed good response in group III. Post pleurodesis complications included, fever, chest pain and empyema. CONCLUSION: It is concluded from this study that thoracoscopic talc insufflation was an effective, easy and low cost method for producing pleurodesis in patients with recurrent malignant pleural effusion and proved to be better than talc slurry and tetracycline.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2005

[Study of HOXA5 gene expression in breast carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To study mRNA and protein expression of HOXA5 gene in breast carcinoma, to correlate the expression of HOXA5 gene with clinicopathologic parameters and to explore the possible role of HOXA5 gene in carcinogenesis, progression and metastasis of breast carcinoma. METHODS: TaqMan real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied on 60 cases of primary breast carcinoma and 24 cases of benign mammary lesions in order to detect mRNA expression of HOXA5 gene. Immunohistochemical study using polyclonal antibody against HOXA5 was also performed. Statistical analysis was carried out to analyze the correlation between HOXA5 gene expression and various clinical parameters in these breast cancer patients. RESULTS: (1) The relative expression level of HOXA5 mRNA ranged from 0.73 to 193.07 (average = 20.85) in primary breast carcinoma, in contrast to 5.42 to 81.91 (average = 30.94) in benign mammary lesions. Compared with benign mammary lesions, a significant reduction in expression of HOXA5 mRNA was noted in primary breast carcinoma (P < 0.01). (2) There was a decreased or completely diminished HOXA5 protein expression in breast carcinoma. (3) HOXA5 mRNA expression was significantly lower in lymph node-positive cases, when compared with that in lymph node-negative cases (P < 0.05). A significant difference of HOXA5 protein expression was also observed in both groups (P < 0.01). Immunohistochemical staining of HOXA5 was either negative or weakly positive in lymph node-positive cases. On the other hand, moderately or strongly positive HOXA5 staining was noted in lymph node-negative cases. (4) Neither mRNA nor protein expression of HOXA5 gene correlated with clinicopathologic parameters such as age of patients, size of tumor, clinical stage, pathologic subtype or histologic grade (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Disordered expression of HOXA5 gene may play a role in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. Reduced expression of HOXA5 gene may be related to the metastatic potential of breast carcinoma cells.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

[Iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging of hepatocellular carcinoma of woodchuck].

To determine the utility of iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), MR imagings of an adult woodchuck with two nodules of HCC was obtained before and after an injection of iron oxide. On postcontrast images, signal intensity decreased in one nodule and did not change in the other. Pathologically, the former was well-differentiated HCC with trabecular pattern and the latter was with pseudograndular and scirrhous pattern. Iron oxide particles were noted within the former. Iron oxide-enhanced MR imaging is a promising method for differentiation of pathological subtypes of HCC, however well-differentiated one with reticuloendothelial cells might be overlooked.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

[Effects of chemotherapy in recurrent endometrial carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of chemotherapy in recurrent endometrial carcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on the clinical data of 20 cases of recurrent endometrial carcinoma hospitalized from May. 1992 to Jun. 2002. RESULTS: The recurrence rate of these 20 cases was 11.0%. The recurrence occurred (17 +/- 10) months after the first therapy. Eleven of the 20 patients (55.0%) had accepted chemotherapy with (6 +/- 4) courses and were followed up for (17 +/- 16) months after the second therapy. Fifteen cases (75.0%) died of cancer, 4 cases survived with tumor, and only 1 case (5.0%) was tumor-free. Univariate model revealed that chemotherapy and number of chemotherapy course were related with the prognosis (P = 0.0146, P = 0.0353). Radiotherapy affected the prognosis too (P = 0.0414). But pathologic subtype, stage, tumor cell differentiation, age, recurrent time, surgery, chemotherapy scheme, drug infusion way , and endocrine therapy had no relation with the prognosis (P = 0.5517, 0.5763, 0.1879, 0.880, 0.453, 0.0672, 0.0795, 0.5956, and 0.2035). Multivariate model revealed that chemotherapy had influence on the prognosis (beta = -1.349, OR = 0.259, P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Combined treatment raises the survival of the recurrent endometrial carcinoma patients, in which chemotherapy plays a leading role and influences the prognosis remarkably.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed2006

Evaluation of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutation and copy number in non-small cell lung cancer with gefitinib therapy.

Several studies have suggested that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation, EGFR gene amplification, and some other biomarkers may be predictors of gefitinib sensitivity. We analyzed EGFR mutation and EGFR copy number in 22 gefitinib-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases and their relation to the survival of patients. We also studied 143 gefitinib-naïve Japanese NSCLC cases. The erbB2 copy number was also studied in 59 gefitinib-naïve NSCLC cases. In gefitinib-treated patients, the presence of EGFR mutation was associated with a higher response rate to gefitinib and a longer overall survival, but the increased EGFR gene copy number was not. In gefitinib-naïve cases, EGFR mutation but not EGFR gene copy number was significantly correlated with gender, pathological subtypes, and smoking status. The erbB2 copy number was not significantly correlated with the EGFR mutation or EGFR copy number in 59 cases. In conclusion, EGFR mutation was a better predictor of clinical outcome in gefitinib-treated patients than the EGFR gene copy number.

Adenocarcinoma↗