4%) of the analysed primary tumors Positive EGFR expression (1+,

4%) of the analysed primary tumors. Positive EGFR expression (1+, 2+ or 3+) was found in 78.7% (37/47) of the corresponding lymph node metastases, the cases with EGFR expression scored as 0, 1+, 2+ or 3+ were 10 (21.3%), 9 (19.1%), 18 (38.3%), and 10 (21.3%) respectively. Table 2 EGFR-scores for the analyzed primary Non-small cell Lung cancer and the corresponding lymph node metastases (n = 47). Primary tumor EGFR-scores Lymph node metastases EGFR-scores   0 1+ 2+ 3+ 0 8 2 1 0 1+ 1 5 4 1 2+ 0 1 9 0 3+ 1 1 4 9 The scoring was based on a scale where 0 corresponded to completely negative staining, DAPT 1+ corresponded to faint perceptible staining of the tumor cell membranes, 2+ corresponded to moderate

staining of the entire tumor cell membranes and 3+ was strong circumferential staining of the entire tumor

cell membranes creating a fishnet pattern EGFR overexpression (2+ or 3+) was found in 53.2% (25/47) of the NSCLC primary tumors and 59.6% (28/47) of the corresponding lymph node PRIMA-1MET in vitro metastases. Example of staining pattern for a primary tumor and the corresponding metastasis (which both were scored as 3+) is shown in Fig. 1A and 1B. Figure 1 Comparisons of immunohistochemical EGFR staining of primary non-small cell lung cancer (A) and corresponding metastases (B). Both A and B (from the same patient) were scored 3+. The micrographs were taken with objective × 40. Comparison of the EGFR status between primary tumors and metastases When EGFR expression is classified as positive (1+, 2+ or 3+) or negative, a buy EX 527 discordance was observed in 5 cases (10.6%): in 2 cases, EGFR was expressed in the primary tumor but not in the metastasis, while three samples showed EGFR expression in the metastasis but not in the primary tumor. There was a good agreement between the primary tumors and the corresponding lymph

node metastases in the majority of cases. EGFR expression retains or gains in the metastases in more than 95.7% (45/47) of the cases. Regarding EGFR overexpression, nine out of the 47 paired samples (19.2%) were discordant for EGFR status between the primary site and the metastases: only three patients who had 2+ or 3+ in the primary tumors and changed to 0 or 1+ in lymph out node metastases, and another six patients who had 0 or 1+ in the primary tumors and changed to 2+ or 3+ in lymph node metastases. The major results from the EGFR-score analyses are summarized in Table 3. Table 3 Major results from the EGFR-scores analyses of non-small cell lung cancer (n = 47). EGFR-scores characteristics Cases % Primary tumors with 2+ or 3+ 25 (53.2) Lymph node metastases with 2+ or 3+ 28 (59.6) Unchanged EGFR-scores in lymph node metastases vs. the primary tumor 31 (66.0) Changed EGFR-scores in lymph node metastases vs. the primary tumor 16 (34.0) Patients who had 0 or 1+ in primary tumors and changed to 2+ or 3+ in lymph node metastases 6 (12.

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