Methods for rapid detection of egfr variants and amplification

A method of detecting EGFR, the method comprising generating a cDNA sample from RNA present in a biological sample, further comprising contacting the cDNA sample with a forward primer that binds EGFR exon 5, a reverse primer that binds EGFR exon 6, and a MGB probe comprising an oligonucleotide having at least the sequence of:

• 5′ AGG AGA ACT GCC 3′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 6) that binds the junction of EGFR exons 5 and 6, and performing digital PCR in order to detect wildtype EGFR.

A method for treating a cancer characterized by expression of epidermal growth factor receptor—variant III (EGFRvIII), the method comprising generating a cDNA sample from RNA present in the biological sample, contacting the cDNA sample with a forward primer that binds EGFR exon 1, a reverse primer that binds EGFR exon 8, and a MGB probe having an oligonucleotide comprising at least the sequence of:

• 5′ AAA GGT AAT TAT 3′ (SEQ ID NO:
• 3) that binds the junction of EGFR exon 1 and 8, and performing digital PCR in order to detect the EGFRvIII, wherein the presence of amplified sequences indicates a cancer associated with EGFRvIII, and treating the subject for the cancer.