LKB1 mutations in lung cancer patients
Author Information
Author(s): Koivunen J P, Kim J, Lee J, Rogers A M, Park J O, Zhao X, Naoki K, Okamoto I, Nakagawa K, Yeap B Y, Meyerson M, Wong K-K, Richards W G, Sugarbaker D J, Johnson B E, Jänne P A
Primary Institution: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Hypothesis
The study investigates the frequency of LKB1 mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their association with clinicopathological characteristics.
Conclusion
LKB1 mutations are more common in Caucasian NSCLC patients compared to Asian patients and are associated with smoking history.
Supporting Evidence
- LKB1 mutations were detected in 34 tumours (11%) out of 310 NSCLC specimens.
- LKB1 mutation frequency was higher in NSCLC tumours of US origin (17%) compared with 5% in NSCLCs of Korean origin.
- LKB1 mutations were associated with a smoking history (P=0.007).
- LKB1 mutations were almost mutually exclusive with EGFR mutations (P=0.002).
- The study provides clinical and molecular characteristics of NSCLC with LKB1 mutations.
Takeaway
This study found that a gene called LKB1 is often mutated in lung cancer, especially in patients who smoke and are from the US.
Methodology
Tumour specimens from 310 NSCLC patients were screened for LKB1, KRAS, BRAF, and EGFR mutations using RT-PCR-based SURVEYOR-WAVE method followed by Sanger sequencing.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of patients who received preoperative treatments or had incomplete resections.
Limitations
The study may underestimate the true LKB1 mutation frequency due to the limitations of the mutation detection methods used.
Participant Demographics
Patients included 143 from the US and 167 from Korea, with a mix of adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma histologies.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.001
Statistical Significance
p=0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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