Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung, response to EGFR inhibitors, EGFR and K-RAS mutations, and differential diagnosis

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the lung needs to be carefully distinguished from other lung tumors with similar features, particularly from adenosquamous carcinoma, this latter tumor frequently showing EGFR mutations. In contrast with the data reported by Han et al in the last July issue of Lung Cancer, neither EGFR nor K-RAS mutations were observed in MEC from caucasian patients. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.