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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Deciphering the Structural Effects of Activating EGFR Somatic Mutations with Molecular Dynamics Simulation
Published on: May 20, 2020
Influence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations on the expression of EGFR, phosphoryl-Akt, and
Makoto Sonobe1, Masatsugu Nakagawa, Kazumasa Takenaka
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.
Background And Objectives:
In this paper we examined the influence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations on EGFR expression, downstream mediators, and survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the tumors of 53 patients with completely resected pathological stage I-IIIA NSCLC for the presence of EGFR gene mutations, the expression of EGFR mRNA and protein, phosphoryl-Akt, and phosphoryl-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) using immunostaining, and patients' prognosis.
Results:
EGFR mutations were associated with elevations in EGFR mRNA (P = 0.004) and protein (P = 0.029) expression, but not with the expression of phosphoryl-Akt or phosphoryl-MAPK. The 5-year survival rate for all patients who exhibited an EGFR mutation was similar to those who were free of such mutations (71% vs. 56%, P = 0.252). However, the 5-year survival rate of patients with either a stage I adenocarcinoma or large cell carcinoma who had an EGFR mutation was significantly greater than for those who did not have such a mutation (92% vs. 57%, P = 0.037).
Conclusions:
EGFR gene mutations were significantly associated with higher EGFR expression, but not with p-Akt or p-MAPK status. In early stage NSCLC, the presence of an EGFR gene mutation bode well for the patient's prognosis.
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