Mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene

摘要

The invention relates to a new identified mutation in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene, leading to an amino acidic change which highly correlates with the resistance to a therapy regimen comprising cetuximab and the sensitivity to a therapy regimen comprising panitumumab. The invention includes peptide sequences, primers and probes to detect such a mutation, as well as kits for predicting the response of a subject to a therapy regime comprising cetuximab and/or panitumumab. In particular, the invention is useful in the therapy regimen applicable to metastasic colorectal cancer and to head and neck cancer.