Abstract 4111: EGFR gene mutation as a predictive marker of the response to pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract

Abstract [Background] Pemetrexed (PEM) is an antimetabolite that inhibits thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate reductase, and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase, and one of standard anti-cancer agents against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), particularly non-squamous cell carcinoma, whereas there is insufficient evidence for clinical practice. [Methods] We retrospectively studied 111 NSCLC cases treated with PEM-based chemotherapy in our institute to analyze the correlation of clinicopathological characteristics with the therapeutic effect of PEM. Furthermore, the validation of identified factors from the analysis was also conducted, using in vitro assays. [Results] The therapeutic effect of PEM plus carboplatin was comparable to that of PEM plus cisplatin from χ2 test. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and logrank test showed that in the patients receiving PEM-based chemotherapy, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation was significantly correlated with the therapeutic effect and progression free survival but not overall survival. From IC50 of PEM, NSCLC cells with mutant EGFR were significantly sensitive to those with wild-type EGFR. [Conclusion] EGFR gene mutation can be a predictive marker of the response to PEM-based chemotherapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4111. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4111