Is ERCC1 Expression a Useful Biomarker in Esophagogastric Cancer?

Expression of ERCC1, a protein involved in DNA nucleotide excision and repair, has been reported to be a biomarker of response to platinum agents in retrospective studies of patients with solid tumors. However, controlled trials have not been performed to validate the utility of ERCC1 to select or direct therapy.

Now, investigators report the results of a multicenter, randomized, phase II trial (SWOG S1201) that evaluated gene expression of ERCC1 as a predictive biomarker in metastatic esophagogastric adenocarcinoma. Previously untreated patients with HER2-negative metastatic esophagogastric cancer had assessment of ERCC1 mRNA expression from paraffin embedded tissue. Patients were assigned to receive FOLFOX or a nonplatinum-containing chemo…