EGFR and lung cancer: Somatic mutations in the gene encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are detected in approximately 12% of non‐small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) from Caucasian patients and in 30–40% of NSCLCs from Asian patients (Lynch et al, 2004; Paez et al, 2004; Pao et al, 2004).