Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations as biomarker for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

Context: Mutations in tyrosine kinase domain (TK) of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) lead to signalling interruptions in several cancers.

Objective: To understand EGFR mutations in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and their role as biomarkers.

Methods: Screened 129 HNSCC patients and 150 controls for mutations in the TK domain using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single strand confirmatory polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing.

Results: 81.39% of HNSCC had four mutations: G2155C, G2176A, C2188G and G2471A among these two mutations were also reported in other cancers where as two novel mutations are being reported for the first time in HNSCC. Mutational frequency was significantly associated with an advanced stage of HNSCC, habits of tobacco/alcohol and ages above 49 years.

Conclusion: EGFR single nucleotide polymorphisms could be useful biomarkers of HNSCC.