Original Article
Primary tracheobronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma: prognostic factors and EGFR mutation analysis of 33 cases
Abstract
Background: Primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is an uncommon neoplasm of the lung. The prognosis and molecular genes characteristics are not well known currently. The aims of this study were to investigate the survival and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations in PMEC.
Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed as PMEC were respectively reviewed between Jan 1990 Dec 2013 at Zhuji People Hospital. The Kaplan-Meier methods were performed to evaluate the survival. EGFR mutations status was determined using amplification refractory mutation system method.
Results: Thirty-three cases of PMEC including 20 male and 13 female with a median age of 32 years were enrolled. The 5-year survival rate in all of the patients was 72.3%. The 5-year survival rate of nine patients with high-grade tumors was 33.3% compared with 90.5% with histology of low/intermediate grade (P=0.001). Stage I and II patients experienced better survival rate than Stage III and IV cases (5-year survival rates: 94.4% vs. 35.8%, P<0.001). Mutation of EGFR exon 21 L858R was detected in two patients. No other sensitive mutations were observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that histology and stage were independent predictor factors for overall survival (P=0.036 and 0.043, respectively).
Conclusions: Histologic grading and stage are independent prognostic factors for PMEC. Some PMEC patients harbor sensitive EGFR mutations.
Methods: Patients with pathologically confirmed as PMEC were respectively reviewed between Jan 1990 Dec 2013 at Zhuji People Hospital. The Kaplan-Meier methods were performed to evaluate the survival. EGFR mutations status was determined using amplification refractory mutation system method.
Results: Thirty-three cases of PMEC including 20 male and 13 female with a median age of 32 years were enrolled. The 5-year survival rate in all of the patients was 72.3%. The 5-year survival rate of nine patients with high-grade tumors was 33.3% compared with 90.5% with histology of low/intermediate grade (P=0.001). Stage I and II patients experienced better survival rate than Stage III and IV cases (5-year survival rates: 94.4% vs. 35.8%, P<0.001). Mutation of EGFR exon 21 L858R was detected in two patients. No other sensitive mutations were observed. Multivariate analysis revealed that histology and stage were independent predictor factors for overall survival (P=0.036 and 0.043, respectively).
Conclusions: Histologic grading and stage are independent prognostic factors for PMEC. Some PMEC patients harbor sensitive EGFR mutations.
