Standardisation of EGFR FISH in colorectal cancer: results of an international interlaboratory reproducibility ring study.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene copy number evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) can discriminate among KRAS wild-type patients those with better outcome to EGFR-targeted therapy in metastatic colorectal cancer, further enhancing selection of patients. Nevertheless, enumeration of gene copies is challenging and the lack of analytical standardisation has limited incorporation of the test into the clinical practice. We therefore assessed EGFR FISH interlaboratory consensus among five molecular diagnostic reference centres.

Methods

A set of 12 colorectal cancer samples circulated among laboratories, and samples were scored according to commonly agreed guidelines. Reproducibility was quantified using the standard error of measurement (SEM).

SUBMITTER: Sartore-Bianchi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4612522 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature