Spectrum of driver mutations and clinical impact of circulating tumor DNA analysis in non-small cell lung cancer: Analysis of over 8000 cases.

BACKGROUND: Circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA)-based mutation profiling, if sufficiently sensitive and comprehensive, can efficiently identify genomic targets in advanced lung adenocarcinoma. Therefore, the authors investigated the accuracy and clinical utility of a commercially available digital next-generation sequencing platform in a large series of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: Plasma-based comprehensive genomic profiling results from 8388 consecutively tested patients with advanced NSCLC were analyzed. Driver and resistance mutations were examined with regard to their distribution, frequency, co-occurrence, and mutual exclusivity. RESULTS: Somatic alterations were detected in 86% of samples. The median variant allele fraction was 0.43% (range, 0.03%-97.62%). Activating alterations in actionable oncogenes were identified in 48% of patients, including EGFR (26.4%), MET (6.1%), and BRAF (2.8%) alterations and fusions (ALK, RET, and ROS1) in 2.3%. Treatment-induced resistance mutations were common in this cohort, including driver-dependent and driver-independent alterations. In the subset of patients who had progressive disease during EGFR therapy, 64% had known or putative resistance alterations detected in plasma. Subset analysis revealed that ctDNA increased the identification of driver mutations by 65% over standard-of-care, tissue-based testing at diagnosis. A pooled data analysis on this plasma-based assay demonstrated that targeted therapy response rates were equivalent to those reported from tissue analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive ctDNA analysis detected the presence of therapeutically targetable driver and resistance mutations at the frequencies and distributions predicted for the study population. These findings add support for comprehensive ctDNA testing in patients who are incompletely tested at the time of diagnosis and as a primary option at the time of progression on targeted therapies.

Pharmacodynamic separation of gemcitabine and erlotinib in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: therapeutic and biomarker results.

PURPOSE: Erlotinib marginally improves survival when administered continuously with gemcitabine to patients with advanced pancreatic cancer; however, preclinical data suggest that there is antagonism between chemotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors when these are delivered concurrently. We tested a pharmacodynamic separation approach for erlotinib plus gemcitabine and interrogated EGFR signaling intermediates as potential surrogates for the efficacy of this strategy. METHODS: Patients with measurable, previously untreated locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer were treated with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) as an intravenous infusion over 30-min on days 1, 8, 15 and erlotinib 150 mg/day on days 2-5, 9-12, 16-26 of each 28-day cycle. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints included RECIST objective response rate (ORR) and safety. The study was terminated after thirty patients due to funding considerations. RESULTS: The median PFS was 2.07 months (95% CI; 1.87-5.50 months) and the ORR was 11%. No unexpected safety signals were seen: the most common grade 3 or higher adverse events were neutropenia (23%), lymphopenia (23%), and fatigue (13%). Patients with mutant plasma Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) had significantly lower median PFS (1.8 vs. 4.6 months, p = 0.014) and overall survival (3.0 vs. 10.5 months, p = 0.003) than those without detected plasma KRAS mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Although pharmacodynamically separated erlotinib and gemcitabine were feasible and tolerable in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, no signal for increased efficacy was seen in this molecularly unselected cohort. Detection of a KRAS mutation in circulating cell-free DNA was a strong predictor of survival.

Impairment of the DNA repair and growth arrest pathways by p53R2 silencing enhances DNA damage-induced apoptosis in a p53-dependent manner in prostate cancer cells.

p53R2 is a p53-inducible ribonucleotide reductase that contributes to DNA repair by supplying deoxynucleotide triphosphate pools in response to DNA damage. In this study, we found that p53R2 was overexpressed in prostate tumor cell lines compared with immortalized prostatic epithelial cells and that the protein was induced upon DNA damage. We investigated the effects of p53R2 silencing on DNA damage in LNCaP cells (wild-type p53). Silencing p53R2 potentiated the apoptotic effects of ionizing radiation and doxorubicin treatment as shown by increased sub-G(1) content and decreased colony formation. This sensitizing effect was specific to DNA-damaging agents. Comet assay and gamma-H2AX phosphorylation status showed that the decreased p53R2 levels inhibited DNA repair. Silencing p53R2 also reduced the levels of p21(WAF1/CIP1) at the posttranscriptional level, suggesting links between the p53-dependent DNA repair and cell cycle arrest pathways. Using LNCaP sublines stably expressing dominant-negative mutant p53, we found that the sensitizing effect of p53R2 silencing is mediated by p53-dependent apoptosis pathways. In the LNCaP sublines (R273H, R248W, and G245S) that have defects in inducing p53-dependent apoptosis, p53R2 silencing did not potentiate DNA damage-induced apoptosis, whereas p53R2 silencing was effective in a LNCaP subline (P151S) which retains the ability to induce p53-dependent apoptosis. This study shows that p53R2 is a potential therapeutic target that could be used to enhance the effectiveness of ionizing radiation or DNA-damaging chemotherapy in a subset of patients with prostate cancer.

Genistein combined polysaccharide enhances activity of docetaxel, bicalutamide and Src kinase inhibition in androgen-dependent and independent prostate cancer cell lines.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the benefit of genistein combined polysaccharide (GCP) in combination with the androgen receptor antagonist bicalutamide, the antimicrotubule taxane docetaxel, and the Src kinase inhibitor pp2 as part of a treatment regimen for advanced prostate cancer (CaP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The growth inhibitory and apoptotic effects of GCP in combination with bicalutamide, docetaxel and pp2 were evaluated in both the androgen-dependent LNCaP line, and three androgen-independent lines: CWR22Rv1, PC-3, and LNCaP-R273H. The LNCaP-R273H model is an LNCaP variant expressing a p53(GOF) allele; like CWR22Rv1 and PC-3, it is able to grow in a minimal androgen environment. The effects of GCP treatment in combination with the aforementioned drugs were measured using an MTT assay, Western blotting, flow cytometric analysis, and caspase activation assay. Altered schedules of drug administration were explored using combinations of GCP and docetaxel. RESULTS: GCP potentiated the activity of docetaxel in all four cell lines, resulting in growth inhibition and increased apoptosis. The combination of GCP and bicalutamide had enhanced activity in both the LNCaP and LNCaP-R273H lines, which may better represent patient tumour cells after progression to androgen independence. Administration of docetaxel followed by GCP resulted in a synergistic interaction in LNCaP cells, with increased apoptosis. By contrast, GCP administered first showed subadditivity, probably resulting from GCP-mediated induction of G1 arrest interfering with docetaxel activity. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that GCP, an isoflavone-enriched compound with minimal side-effects and far superior intestinal absorption rate of genistein, has significant clinical potential in combination with docetaxel, bicalutamide or targeted agents for the treatment of advanced CaP.

Diverse EGFR Exon 20 Insertions and Co-Occurring Molecular Alterations Identified by Comprehensive Genomic Profiling of NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: EGFR exon 20 insertions (EGFRex20ins) comprise an uncommon subset of EGFR-activating alterations relatively insensitive to first- and second-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). However, recent early clinical data suggests these patients may benefit from newer-generation EGFR-TKIs. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) identifies a broad spectrum of EGFRex20ins and associated co-occurring genomic alterations (GAs) present in NSCLC. METHODS: Hybrid capture-based CGP was performed prospectively on 14,483 clinically annotated consecutive NSCLC specimens to a mean coverage depth of greater than 650X for 236 or 315 cancer-related genes. RESULTS: Of 14,483 NSCLC cases, CGP identified 263 (1.8%) cases with EGFRex20ins, representing 12% (263 of 2251) of cases with EGFR mutations. Sixty-four unique EGFRex20ins were identified, most commonly D770_N771>ASVDN (21%) and N771_P772>SVDNP (20%). EGFR amplification occurred in 22% (57 of 263). The most common co-occurring GAs effected tumor protein p53 (TP53) (56%), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) (22%), cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2B (CDKN2B) (16%), NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1) (14%) and RB transcriptional corepressor 1 (RB1) (11%); co-occurring GAs in other known lung cancer drivers were rare (5%). Average tumor mutational burden was low (mean 4.3, range 0 to 40.3 mutations/Mb). Clinical outcomes to first- and second-generation EGFR TKIs were obtained for five patients and none responded. CONCLUSIONS: In the largest series of EGFRex20ins NSCLC, diverse EGFRex20ins were detected in 12% of EGFR-mutant NSCLC, a higher frequency than previously reported in smaller single-institution studies. Clinical outcomes showed lack of response to EGFR TKIs. Tumor mutational burden was low, consistent with non-smoking associated NSCLC. Comprehensive sequencing revealed increased proportion and wide variety of EGFRex20ins, representing a population of patients significant enough for focused efforts on effective interventions.

Antitumor Activity of Osimertinib, an Irreversible Mutant-Selective EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor, in NSCLC Harboring EGFR Exon 20 Insertions.

EGFR exon 20 insertions (Ex20Ins) account for 4% to 10% of EGFR activating mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR Ex20Ins tumors are generally unresponsive to first- and second-generation EGFR inhibitors, and current standard of care for NSCLC patients with EGFR Ex20Ins is conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. Therefore, the development of an EGFR TKI that can more effectively target NSCLC with EGFR Ex20Ins mutations represents a major advance for this patient subset. Osimertinib is a third-generation EGFR TKI approved for the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring EGFR T790M; however, the activity of osimertinib in EGFR Ex20Ins NSCLC has yet to be fully assessed. Using CRISPR-Cas 9 engineered cell lines carrying the most prevalent Ex20Ins mutations, namely Ex20Ins D770_N771InsSVD (22%) or Ex20Ins V769_D770InsASV (17%), and a series of patient-derived xenografts, we have characterized osimertinib and AZ5104 (a circulating metabolite of osimertinib) activities against NSCLC harboring Ex20Ins. We report that osimertinib and AZ5104 inhibit signaling pathways and cellular growth in Ex20Ins mutant cell lines in vitro and demonstrate sustained tumor growth inhibition of EGFR-mutant tumor xenograft harboring the most prevalent Ex20Ins in vivo The antitumor activity of osimertinib and AZ5104 in NSCLC harboring EGFR Ex20Ins is further described herein using a series of patient-derived xenograft models. Together these data support clinical testing of osimertinib in patients with EGFR Ex20Ins NSCLC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(5); 885-96. ©2018 AACR.

Phase II Study of Dovitinib in Patients Progressing on Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Therapy.

BACKGROUND: Prior work identified the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) pathway as a mediator of resistance to anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy. We tested dovitinib, an inhibitor of both FGF and VEGF receptors, in patients progressing on anti-VEGF treatment. METHODS: Patients with measurable advanced colorectal or non-small cell lung cancer with progression despite anti-VEGF treatment within 56 days, good performance status and adequate organ function were eligible. A research tumor biopsy was followed by treatment with dovitinib 500 mg on a 5-day on/2-day off schedule for 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint of tumor response was evaluated every 2 cycles. Secondary endpoints included toxicity and 8-week disease control rate. Intratumor mRNA expression of angiogenic mediators was analyzed using a next generation sequencing based expression array. RESULTS: Ten patients treated previously with bevacizumab or ziv-aflibercept enrolled. The study closed with termination of dovitinib development. No responses were observed in 7 evaluable patients. The best response was stable disease in 1 patient. Common toxicities included gastrointestinal, metabolic, and biochemical derangements. All patients experienced at least one grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse event, most commonly fatigue, elevated GGT, and lymphopenia. Expression of multiple angiogenic mediators was common in tumors progressing on anti-VEGF therapy including high levels of FGFR1 and VEGFA. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence for the activity of dovitinib in patients who had recently progressed on anti-VEGF therapy and toxicities were significant. In tumors progressing despite anti-VEGF therapy, a multitude of pro-angiogenic mediators are expressed, including members of the FGF pathway.

Preclinical Evaluation of MET Inhibitor INC-280 With or Without the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Erlotinib in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor erlotinib is initially effective in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with tumors harboring activating mutations of EGFR, most subsequently develop acquired resistance. One recognized resistance mechanism occurs through activation of bypass signaling via the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-MET pathway. INC-280 is a small molecule kinase inhibitor of MET. We sought to demonstrate the activity of INC-280 on select NSCLC cell lines both as a single agent and in combination with erlotinib using exogenous HGF to simulate MET up-regulation. METHODS: Four NSCLC cell lines (HCC827, PC9, H1666, and H358) were treated with either single-agent INC-280 or in combination with erlotinib with or without HGF. The activity of the drug treatments was measured by cell viability assays. Immunoblotting was used to monitor expression of EGFR/pEGFR, MET/pMET, GAB1/pGAB1, AKT/pAKT, and ERK/pERK as well as markers of apoptosis (PARP and capase-3 cleavage) in H1666, HCC827, and PC9. RESULTS: As a single agent, INC-280 showed minimal cytotoxicity despite potent inhibition of MET kinase activity at concentrations as low as 10 nM. Addition of HGF prevented erlotinib-induced cell death. The addition of INC280 to HGF-mediated erlotinib-resistant models restored erlotinib sensitivity for all cell lines tested, associated with cleavage of both PARP and caspase-3. In these models, INC-280 treatment was sufficient to restore erlotinib-induced inhibition of MET, GAB1, AKT, and ERK in the presence of HGF. CONCLUSION: Although the MET inhibitor INC-280 alone had no discernible effect on cell growth, it was able to restore sensitivity to erlotinib and promote apoptosis in NSCLC models rendered erlotinib resistant by HGF. These data provide a preclinical rationale for an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial of erlotinib plus INC-280 in EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Bridging tumor genomics to patient outcomes through an integrated patient-derived xenograft platform.

New approaches to optimization of cancer drug development in the laboratory and the clinic will be required to fully achieve the goal of individualized, precision cancer therapy. Improved preclinical models that more closely reflect the now recognized genomic complexity of human cancers are needed. Here we describe a collaborative research project that integrates core resources of The Jackson Laboratory Basic Science Cancer Center with genomics and clinical research facilities at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center to establish a clinically and genomically annotated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) platform designed to enhance new drug development and strategies for targeted therapies. Advanced stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was selected for initial studies because of emergence of a number of "druggable" molecular targets, and recent recognition of substantial inter- and intrapatient tumor heterogeneity. Additionally, clonal evolution after targeted therapy interventions make this tumor type ideal for investigation of this platform. Using the immunodeficient NOD scid gamma mouse, > 200 NSCLC tumor biopsies have been xenotransplanted. During the annotation process, patient tumors and subsequent PDXs are compared at multiple levels, including histomorphology, clinically applicable molecular biomarkers, global gene expression patterns, gene copy number variations, and DNA/chromosomal alterations. NSCLC PDXs are grouped into panels of interest according to oncogene subtype and/or histologic subtype. Multiregimen drug testing, paired with next-generation sequencing before and after therapy and timed tumor pharmacodynamics enables determination of efficacy, signaling pathway alterations, and mechanisms of sensitivity-resistance in individual models. This approach should facilitate derivation of new therapeutic strategies and the transition to individualized therapy.

L-BLP25 vaccine plus letrozole induces a TH1 immune response and has additive antitumor activity in MUC1-expressing mammary tumors in mice.

PURPOSE: In this study, we examine the immunomodulatory effects and antitumor activity of tamoxifen and letrozole when combined with the human epithelial mucin (hMUC1)-specific vaccine, L-BLP25, in the hMUC1-expressing mammary tumor (MMT) mouse model. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Dose-finding studies were conducted for both tamoxifen and letrozole. Letrozole and L-BLP25 combination studies used 69 MMT female mice assigned to five groups: untreated, cyclophosphamide + placebo, cyclophosphamide + L-BLP25, letrozole 0.8 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide + L-BLP25 + letrozole. Tamoxifen and L-BLP25 combination studies used 48 MMT female mice assigned to five treatment groups: untreated, cyclophosphamide + placebo, cyclophosphamide + L-BLP25, tamoxifen 50 mg/kg, and cyclophosphamide + L-BLP25 + tamoxifen 50 mg/kg group. Mice were injected subcutaneously with L-BLP25 (10 µg) weekly for 8 weeks. Serum cytokines were serially measured using a Luminex assay, whereas splenocytes at termination were analyzed by ELISpot to determine T-helper (T(H))1/T(H)2 polarization of immune response. RESULTS: Daily oral doses of 50 and 0.8 mg/kg of tamoxifen and letrozole, respectively, resulted in a significant survival advantage over controls (P < 0.05). A predominant T(H)1-polarized immune response in vaccinated mice was seen with or without tamoxifen or letrozole treatments. In the L-BLP25 plus letrozole treatment group, statistically significant (P < 0.05) additive antitumor activity was observed, whereas tamoxifen plus L-BLP25 was not significantly different (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that hormonal therapy does not interfere with L-BLP25-induced predominant T(H)1 response, and the combination of L-BLP25 with letrozole has additive antitumor activity in the MMT mouse model.

Ospemifene and 4-hydroxyospemifene effectively prevent and treat breast cancer in the MTag.Tg transgenic mouse model.

OBJECTIVE: Ospemifene, a new drug indicated for the treatment of vulvovaginal atrophy, has completed phase III clinical trials. A condition affecting millions of women worldwide, vulvovaginal atrophy has long been treated with estrogen therapy. Estrogen treatment carries with it risks of thromboembolism, endometrial proliferative effects, and breast cancer promotion. In this study, we test the effects of three dosing levels of ospemifene in both the prevention and treatment of breast cancer in the MTag.Tg mouse model. METHODS: The polyomavirus middle-T transgenic mouse model (MTag.Tg), which produces synchronized, multifocal mammary tumors in the immunologically intact C57BL/6 background, was used to examine the impact of ospemifene treatment. First, a cell line derived from an MTag.Tg mouse tumor (MTag 34) was treated in vitro with ospemifene and its major metabolite, 4-hydroxyospemifene (4-OH ospemifene). MTag.Tg mice were treated daily by gavage with three different doses of ospemifene (5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) before or after the development of mammary tumors. Survival and tumor development results were used to determine the effect of ospemifene treatment on mammary tumors in both the preventive and treatment settings. RESULTS: Tumors and the MTag 34 cell line were positive for estrogen receptor expression. The MTag 34 line was not stimulated by ospemifene or its major, active metabolite 4-OH ospemifene in vitro. Ospemifene increased survival time and exerted an antitumor effect on the development and growth of estrogen receptor-positive mammary tumors in the MTag.Tg mouse model at the 50-mg/kg dose. The levels of ospemifene and 4-OH ospemifene in both the tumors and plasma of mice confirmed the dosing. Ospemifene did not exert an estrogenic effect in the breast tissue at doses equivalent to human dosing. CONCLUSIONS: Ospemifene prevents and treats estrogen receptor-positive MTag.Tg mammary tumors in this immune-intact mouse model in a dose-dependent fashion. Ospemifene drug levels in the plasma of treated mice were comparable with those found in humans. Combined with our previous data, ospemifene does not seem to pose a breast cancer risk in animals and slows down cancer development and progression in the MTag.Tg model.

GCP, a genistein-rich compound, inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in lymphoma cell lines.

Genistein combined polysaccharide (GCP), derived from soy bean extract, is comprised of deglycosylated isoflavones, such as genistein and daidzein. The goal of this work was to determine if GCP is effective in lymphoid cancers. In three human and four canine lymphoid cell lines, GCP inhibited proliferation and induced G2/M arrest. Additionally, increased apoptosis was observed in Ramos and Jurkat lines. These results demonstrate that GCP is effective in lymphoid cell lines of both human and canine origin. Due to its minimal toxicities, increased bioavailability, and in vitro efficacy, GCP may have clinical utility in the treatment of patients with lymphoma.

EGFR mutations detected in plasma are associated with patient outcomes in erlotinib plus docetaxel-treated non-small cell lung cancer.

PURPOSE: Activating mutations in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are associated with enhanced response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), whereas KRAS mutations translate into poor patient outcomes. We hypothesized that analysis of plasma for EGFR and KRAS mutations from shed tumor DNA would have clinical utility. METHODS: An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction assay using Scorpion-amplification refractory mutation system (DxS, Ltd) was used to detect mutations in plasma DNA from patients with advanced stage NSCLC treated as second- or third-line therapy on a phase I/II trial of docetaxel plus intercalated erlotinib. RESULTS: EGFR mutations were detected in 10 of 49 patients (20%). Six (12%) had single activating mutations in EGFR, associated with improved progression-free survival (median, 18.3 months), compared with all other patients (median, 3.9 months; p = 0.008), or those with wild-type EGFR (median, 4.0 months; p = 0.012). Four of 49 patients harbored a de novo T790M resistance mutation (median progression-free survival, 3.9 months). EGFR mutational status was associated with clinical response (45 assessable, p = 0.0001); in the six patients with activating mutations, all achieved complete (33%) or partial (67%) response. All CR patients had E19del detectable in both tumor and plasma. KRAS mutations were detected in two of 49 (4%) patients, both of whom had rapid progressive disease. CONCLUSIONS: Activating EGFR mutations detected in shed DNA in plasma are significantly associated with favorable outcomes in patients with advanced NSCLC receiving docetaxel plus intercalated erlotinib. The addition of docetaxel in this schedule did not diminish the efficacy of erlotinib against patients with EGFR activating mutations.