Multinational proficiency tests for EGFR exon 20 insertions reveal that the assay design matters

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Michaela A Ihle - , Uniklinik Köln (Author)
  • Carina Heydt - , Uniklinik Köln (Author)
  • Anne Maria Schultheis - , Uniklinik Köln (Author)
  • Robert Stöhr - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Florian Haller - , University Hospital at the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • Sylvia Herold - , Institute of Pathology (Author)
  • Daniela Aust - , Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Wolfgang Dietmaier - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Matthias Evert - , University of Regensburg (Author)
  • Markus Eszlinger - , Martin Luther University Hospital (Author)
  • Anja Haak - , Martin Luther University Hospital (Author)
  • Silke Laßmann - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Daniela Vorholt - , Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Author)
  • Frank Breitenbücher - , Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Author)
  • Martin Werner - , University Medical Center Freiburg (Author)
  • Anna Streubel - , Helios Hospital Emil von Behring (Author)
  • Thomas Mairinger - , Helios Hospital Emil von Behring (Author)
  • Maja Grassow-Narlik - , Quality Assurance Initiative Pathology QuIP GmbH (Author)
  • Sabine Merkelbach-Bruse - , Uniklinik Köln (Author)

Abstract

Insertion mutations in exon 20 of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene (EGFR exon20ins) are rare, heterogeneous alterations observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). With a few exceptions, they are associated with primary resistance to established EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). As patients carrying EGFR exon20ins may be eligible for treatment with novel therapeutics-the bispecific antibody amivantamab, the TKI mobocertinib, or potential future innovations-they need to be identified reliably in clinical practice for which quality-based routine genetic testing is crucial. Spearheaded by the German Quality Assurance Initiative Pathology two international proficiency tests were run, assessing the performance of 104 participating institutes detecting EGFR exon20ins in tissue and/or plasma samples. EGFR exon20ins were most reliably identified using next-generation sequencing (NGS). Interestingly, success rates of institutes using commercially available mutation-/allele-specific quantitative (q)PCR were below 30% for tissue samples and 0% for plasma samples. Most of these mutation-/allele-specific (q)PCR assays are not designed to detect the whole spectrum of EGFR exon20ins mutations leading to false negative results. These data suggest that NGS is a suitable method to detect EGFR exon20ins in various types of patient samples and is superior to the detection spectrum of commercially available assays.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number13069
Pages (from-to)13069
JournalScientific reports
Volume14
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC11156884
Scopus 85195438638

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Humans, ErbB Receptors/genetics, Exons, High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing/methods, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics, Lung Neoplasms/genetics, Laboratory Proficiency Testing, Antibodies, Bispecific/therapeutic use, Mutagenesis, Insertional, Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use