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Updated: Jan 20, 2026
Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
Frequency of expression and prognostic implications of emerging molecular targets in pulmonary squamous cell
Rahul Kumar Pandey1, Saumya Shukla1, Nuzhat Husain1
1Department of Pathology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
NSCLC-Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is characterized by poor survival largely due no definitive markers for targeted therapy. KRAS (Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog) is a proto-oncogene associated with resistance standard chemotherapy regimens. Discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), fibroblast growth factor receptor-1(FGFR-1) and mesenchymal epithelial transition (MET) are receptor tyrosine kinases that regulate proliferation, apoptosis and invasion.
Aims:
The objectives were to assess frequency of FGFR1, DDR2,c-MET protein over-expression and KRAS mutations in NSCLC-SCC and to co-relate expression of molecular markers with clinico-pathological parameters.
Materials And Methods:
The study was a retrospective and prospective case series of 150 cases of NSCLC-SCC. Testing for KRAS, DDR-2, cMET and FGFR1 was done using immunohistochemistry (IHC). KRAS IHC was validated using real time polymerase chain reaction testing.
Results:
Molecular marker expression was identified in 37.33% (n=56/150) cases, among which 80.35% (n=45/56) cases had a single mutation and 19.64% cases(n=11/56) had multiple mutations. FGFR-1 protein over-expression was identified in 8% cases and cMET protein over-expression in 4.67% cases. DDR-2 over-expression was present in 19.33% cases and KRAS protein over-expression in 14.67% cases. Co-expression of DDR-2 and KRAS was identified in 72.72% cases. DDR2 protein over-expression is identified in smokers and cases with distant metastasis. KRAS protein over-expression was more frequent in cases >40 years of age with advanced disease stage.
Conclusions:
The targets evaluated have potential drugs currently under trial phase. This may help to define the subgroup for use of targeted therapy in NSCLC-SCC and in designing new treatment protocols.
Insights
This study investigated molecular markers in non-small cell lung cancer-squamous cell carcinoma (NSCLC-SCC). DDR2 and KRAS protein over-expression were linked to advanced disease and smoking, suggesting potential for targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Cancer Research
Background:
- Non-small cell lung cancer-squamous cell carcinoma (NSCLC-SCC) has poor survival due to a lack of targeted therapy markers.
- KRAS proto-oncogene is linked to chemotherapy resistance.
- Receptor tyrosine kinases like DDR2, FGFR1, and MET regulate cancer cell growth and invasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of FGFR1, DDR2, c-MET protein over-expression, and KRAS mutations in NSCLC-SCC.
- To correlate these molecular markers with clinico-pathological parameters.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective and prospective case series of 150 NSCLC-SCC patients.
- Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to test for KRAS, DDR2, cMET, and FGFR1.
- KRAS IHC results were validated using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Main Results:
- Molecular marker expression was found in 37.33% of cases, with single mutations in 80.35% and multiple in 19.64%.
- FGFR-1 over-expression was 8%, cMET 4.67%, DDR-2 19.33%, and KRAS 14.67%.
- DDR2 over-expression correlated with smoking and metastasis; KRAS over-expression correlated with age >40 and advanced stage.
Conclusions:
- The evaluated molecular targets (DDR2, KRAS, FGFR1, MET) have drugs in clinical trials.
- These findings can help define patient subgroups for targeted therapy in NSCLC-SCC.
- This research may inform the design of novel treatment protocols for NSCLC-SCC.
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