The mutation rate of EGFR was higher in females than that in males (39.5% vs 29.4%, P=0.076), significantly increased in adenocarcinomas (38.7%) compared to that in the other forms of NSCLC (P < 0.01), but still lower than that reported in some Asian studies of advanced adenocarcinoma (-50%). This evidence concerns the gene EGFR and adenocarcinoma.