Inventors:
Daphne Winifred Bell - Arlington MA, US
Daniel A. Haber - Chestnut Hill MA, US
Pasi Antero Janne - Newton MA, US
Bruce E. Johnston - Brookline MA, US
Thomas J. Lynch - Newton MA, US
Matthew Meyerson - Concord MA, US
Juan Guillermo Paez - Boston MA, US
William R. Sellers - Chestnut Hill MA, US
Jeffrey E. Settleman - Newton MA, US
Raffaella Sordella - Bedford MA, US
Assignee:
The General Hospital Corporation - Boston MA
Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Inc. - Boston MA
International Classification:
C12Q 1/68
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a method for determining the responsiveness of cancer to an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) treatment. In a preferred embodiment, the presence of at least one variance in the kinase domain of the erbB1 gene confers sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitinib. Thus, a diagnostic assay for these mutations will allow for the administration of gefitinib, erlotinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors to those patients most likely to respond to the drug.