Abstract: Objective  To investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR）autoantibodies in sera in healthy controls, patients with lung cancer and tuberculosis. Methods  EGFR autoantibodies in the sera from 100 healthy controls, 112 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, 317 patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer were detected using indirect ELISA.  Results  There was no significant difference in the level of EGFR autoantibodies in sera between healthy controls (1.475±0.806) and patients with lung cancer (1.625±0.988) (t=1.533，P=0.127). There was significant difference in the level of EGFR autoantibodies in sera between healthy controls (1.475±0.806) and patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (2.298±1.414) (t=5.277，P=0.022), also between the patients with lung cancer (1.625±0.988) and the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (2.298±1.414) (t=4.566, P=0.043).  Conclusion  The level of EGFR autoantibodies in sera from the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis is the highest, followed by lung cancer, and healthy controls with the lowest level. It may provide an evidence for the differential diagnosis of lung cancer and tuberculosis.

Key words: Tuberculosis,pulmonary/diagnosis, Lung neoplasms, Receptor,epidermal growth factor, Autoantibodies, Diagnosis,differential