A groundbreaking free tool to help oncologists choose the best therapies for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer has been launched this week by scientists at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference jointly organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

The online database brings together data on all the known somatic mutations (tumor derived - tumor specific) in a molecule called epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). Somatic mutations in this cell-surface molecule are known to affect treatment with the newer tyrosine kinase inhibitor class of drugs.

"We have known for some time that some EGFR mutations correlate with response to tyrosine kinase inhibitors for lung cancer patients," says Dr. Samuel Murray from Department of Molecular Pathology and Translational Oncology, Metropolitan Hospital, Athens, Greece. "But there have been so many articles published on this topic that we felt that it would be virtually impossible for any given center or individual to interpret the clinical relevance of a given mutation."

"So we worked on the assumption that a comprehensive list of all somatic EGFR mutations coupled with data on the response of non-small-cell lung cancers treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) would help clinicians determine whether a specific mutation was likely to correlate with clinical benefit."

The database includes cumulative data from thousands of patients. In addition, independent patient data (IPD) for patients who have been treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors and some who have not, is being added. A total of 12,244 patients are included, of whom 3,381 had somatic mutations in EGFR. The researchers catalogued 254 different mutations.

Ultimately, the database offers a chance to improve treatment for people receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors. "We believe that for the more common mutations the database allows clinicians to make more robust decisions concerning their treatment options for NSCLC," says Dr. Murray.

The database is online at EGFR-mutations and somaticmutations-EGFR.

About the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) is the leading European non-profit, professional organization for medical oncology promoting multidisciplinary cancer treatment around the world.

ESMO unites medical oncologists, oncology specialists, healthcare professionals, caregivers, patients and policy makers in a global alliance committed to eradicating cancer and ensuring equal access to high quality treatment for all patients. Thanks to its state-of-the-art education and training programs, ESMO plays an instrumental role in providing the oncology community with the most up-to-date scientific research and information available. ESMO is dedicated to educating and supporting oncologists, optimizing patient care, disseminating cancer-specific information to the public, and advocating patient rights. As an authoritative voice in the fight against cancer, ESMO provides both the platform and the consultative expertise to influence national and international organizations as well as European authorities, in order to establish common standards for a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment. Through its flagship journal, Annals of Oncology, ESMO publishes articles on all aspects of clinical oncology.

esmo

About the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC)

Founded in 1972, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) is an international organization of 2,000 lung cancer specialists, spanning 53 countries. IASLC members work towards developing and promoting the study of etiology, epidemiology, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and all other aspects of lung cancer. IASLC's mission is to enhance the understanding and education of lung cancer to scientists, members of the medical community and the public. IASLC publishes the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, a prized resource for medical specialists and scientists who focus on the detection, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.

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Abstract No. 75º
Proffered papers 5 - Biology, Friday 25th April (14:40 - 16:10)
EGFR somatic mutation database: egfr-mutations
S. Murray, H. Linardou, I.J. Dahabreh, P. Kosmidis

European Society for Medical Oncology