Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Ultra-Fast Amplicon-Based Next-Generation Sequencing in Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: September 8, 2023
An alternative method for screening EGFR mutation using RFLP in non-small cell lung cancer patients
Ichiro Kawada1, Kenzo Soejima, Hideo Watanabe
1Department of Internal Medicine, Hino Municipal Hospital, Hino, Tokyo, Japan.
Introduction:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations are strong determinants of tumor response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Currently available methods of EGFR mutation detection rely on direct sequencing. Here, we describe the use of an alternative way to screen EGFR mutations.
Methods:
A total of 109 frozen tumor specimens from NSCLC patients were obtained. For mutational analysis of EGFR exons 18, 19, and 21, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on the cDNA using original primers designed for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
Results:
EGFR mutations were detected in 37 patients (34%) by both RFLP and direct sequencing except one case in which it was detected only by RFLP. EGFR mutations were more frequently observed to be significant by multivariate analysis in patients with adenocarcinoma (OR = 5.56), no-smoking history (OR = 4.34), and 65-year-old or younger (OR = 2.64), but not in women (OR = 1.14). Among 37 patients, 18 were treated with gefitinib and 9 responded to the treatment. One patient without any mutation responded.
Conclusion:
RFLP is a useful method for screening EGFR mutations and can also be applied to predicting the sensitivity of NSCLC patients to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors.