Detection of EGFR Mutations in Bronchial Wash from Iraqi patients with nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is caused of 85% of all lung cancers. Among the most important factors for lung tumor growth and proliferation are the tyrosine kinase receptors that coded by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene. Activation of EGFR ultimately leads to developing of lung cancer. The present study was undertaken with an objective to detect EGFR mutations in bronchial wash from Iraqi patients with NSCLC before treatment. Methods: DNA was extracted from bronchial wash samples collected from 50 patients with NSCLC by using a Qiamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Then, EGFR mutations were determined by using real-time RCR combined with two technologies, Amplification Refractory Mutation System (ARMS) and Scorpions. Results: A point mutation, G719X, in exon−18 with three different profiles, G719A, G719S, and G719C was significantly diffused in EGFR. L858R in the same exon and T790M in exon−20 was also detected. While no deletions in exon −19, and no substitutions or insertions in exon −20 were found. Moreover, no significant differences (P≤0.05) in EGFR mutations were seen between males (28.57%) and females (30.76%). In contrast, EGFR mutations were significantly (P≤0.05) prevalent in smoker’s males (26.6%) than females 6.6%). Conclusion: Using the bronchial wash samples was efficient for detection of mutations in lung cancer. Moreover, Iraqi patients with NSCLC were discriminated in EGFR genotype; the point mutation G179X in exon−20 was dominant and L858R in the same exon and T790M in exon−20 were detected while no mutations in exon− 19 and −20 were investigated. Key-words EGFR mutations, Non- small cell lung cancer, bronchial wash, exon