Page 244 - EJMO-9-1

Eurasian Journal of Medicine
and Oncology

ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE
Lung cancer in Morocco: EGFR and PIK3CA

mutations as therapeutic targets and the lack of
HER2 mutations

Younes El Founini 1,2 , Sara Hafidi 3 , Hind Dehbi 2,4 , Boutaina Addoum 1 ,
Mohammed Attaleb 1 , Fadila Guessous 5 , Souheil Boubia 3 ,
Mohamed Ridai 3 , Mehdi Karkouri 2,6 , Mohammed El Mzibri 1 ,
1
and Imane Chaoui *
1 National Center for Nuclear Energy, Sciences and Techniques, Rabat, Morocco
2 Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hassan II
University of Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco
3 Department of Thoracic Surgery, CHU Ibn Rochd, Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco
4 Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Ibn Rochd University Hospital, Casablanca, Morocco
5 Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Mohammed VI University of Health Sciences (UM6SS),
Casablanca, Morocco
6 General Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, CHU Ibn Rochd, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy,
Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco

Abstract

*Corresponding author:
Imane Chaoui Lung cancer (LC) mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR),
(Chaoui@cnesten.org.ma) phosphoinositide 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and human epidermal
growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) genes represent promising targets for personalized
Citation: El Founini Y, Hafidi S,
Dehbi H, et al. Lung cancer in treatment strategies. This study aims to investigate the mutation profiles of these
Morocco: EGFR and PIK3CA genes in Moroccan LC patients and examine their correlation with clinicopathological
mutations as therapeutic targets features. In this prospective study, LC specimens were collected from 60 patients.
and the lack of HER2 mutations.
Eurasian J Med Oncol. 2025; Mutations in specific regions of EGFR (exons 18 – 21), PIK3CA (exons 9 and 20), and
9(1):236-244. HER2 (exon 20) were assessed using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.
doi: 10.36922/ejmo.7111 Correlation with clinicopathological features was analyzed using Jamovi software.
Received: December 9, 2024 Overall, 25 patients (41.7%, 25/60) harbored mutations in EGFR, and five patients
Revised: January 13, 2025 (8.3%, 5/60) had alterations in PIK3CA, while no mutation was found in HER2. Most
EGFR mutations were located in exon 21 (19/27), and PIK3CA mutations were found
Accepted: February 3, 2025 in exons 9 and 20. Interestingly, 3.4% of cases exhibited co-occurring PIK3CA and
Published online: February 28, EGFR mutations. EGFR mutations were observed across multiple histological types,
2025 whereas PIK3CA mutations were associated with adenocarcinoma and squamous
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s). cell carcinoma. No notable correlations were found between EGFR mutations and
This is an Open-Access article clinicopathological parameters, but a significant association between PIK3CA
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution mutations and age was observed. The occurrence of EGFR and PIK3CA mutations
License, permitting distribution, highlights their potential as biomarkers for personalized LC therapy. The absence
and reproduction in any medium, of HER2 mutations in this cohort warrants further investigation. These findings
provided the original work is
properly cited. highlight the importance of expanding molecular profiling to identify additional
actionable mutations for tailored treatment in LC patients.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in Keywords: Lung cancer; Mutations; Biomarkers; EGFR, HER2; PIK3CA; Target therapy
published maps and institutional
affiliations

Volume 9 Issue 1 (2025) 236 doi: 10.36922/ejmo.7111