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Abstract

Disclosed are biomarkers, methods and assay kits for the identification of cancer patients who are predicted to benefit, or not to benefit, from the therapeutic administration of an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor. The biomarkers of the present invention include detection of EGFR and HER 2 gene amplification and polysomy, EGFR protein expression, EGFR mutations, phosphorylated Akt protein expression, and various combinations of such biomarkers, as well as the combination of these biomarkers with mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the EGFR gene. Increased EGFR gene copy number, increased HER2 gene copy number, increased EGFR, protein expression, activated AKT protein expression (phosphorylated AKT) and EGFR mutations are all associated with better outcome for cancer patients treated with EGFR inhibitors. The invention provides a diagnostic paradigm based on each of these tests and combinations of these tests to select cancer patients who will benefit from EGFR inhibitor therapy, as well as a diagnostic paradigm to select cancer patients who will not benefit from EGFR inhibitor therapy.

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First Claim