RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and treatment of leptomeningeal metastases (LM) in epidermal growth factor receptor mutation positive (EGFRm+) NSCLC is challenging. We aimed to identify resistance mechanisms (RM) to osimertinib in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. METHODS: EGFRm+ patients with new or progressive LM during osimertinib were enrolled. NGS Ampliseq was performed on DNA isolated from CSF. Patients were prescribed osimertinib dose escalation (DE, 160mg QD) following lumbar puncture. Clinical and radiological response was evaluated four weeks after osimertinib DE. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients were included. The driver mutation was identified in 93% of CSF samples (n=26). Seven (27%) harbored ≥1 RM. Twenty-five patients (89%) were prescribed osimertinib DE. Four weeks afterwards, symptoms improved in five patients, stabilized in nine and worsened in eleven patients. Twenty-one (84%) patients underwent MR imaging. Four showed radiological improvement, fourteen stabilization, and three worsening. CONCLUSIONS: In 27% of patients an RM was found in CSF ctDNA, none of which are targetable at time of writing, and clinical efficacy of osimertinib DE seems limited. There is much to gain in diagnostic as well as therapeutic strategies in EGFRm+ NSCLC LM.