lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) being the most prevalent form. Across populations, there are differences in the frequency of EGFR mutations, which are a crucial component of NSCLC. This study aimed to investigate the potential use of soluble EGFR (sEGFR) as a biomarker for diagnosis NSCLC and its association with EGFR gene mutations. A total of 76 NSCLC tissue samples and corresponding plasma samples, along with control samples, were analyzed. PCR was used to test for EGFR gene mutations, and ELISA was used to determine the plasma's sEGFR levels.
The overall mutation rate in EGFR gene was 44.7%, with exon 19 deletions being the majority. Notably, there was not a significant difference in sEGFR levels between patients with NSCLC and healthy controls, or between different EGFR mutation statuses. These findings suggest the complexity of sEGFR's role as a diagnostic biomarker, influenced by NSCLC heterogeneity and biological factors. Additional study is required to understand the clinical importance and possible applications of sEGFR in NSCLC and EGFR mutation analysis.