JTO Clinical and Research Reports (Jun 2020)

Oncogenic Fusions May Be Frequently Present at Resistance of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Patients With NSCLC: A Brief Report

  • Diego Enrico, MD,
  • Ludovic Lacroix, PharmD, PhD,
  • Jeanne Chen, MD,
  • Etienne Rouleau, PharmD, PhD,
  • Jean-Yves Scoazec, MD, PhD,
  • Yohann Loriot, MD, PhD,
  • Lambros Tselikas, MD,
  • Cécile Jovelet, PharmD, PhD,
  • David Planchard, MD, PhD,
  • Anas Gazzah, MD,
  • Laura Mezquita, MD, PhD,
  • Maud Ngo-Camus, MSc,
  • Stefan Michiels, PhD,
  • Christophe Massard, MD, PhD,
  • Gonzalo Recondo, MD, PhD,
  • Francesco Facchinetti, MD,
  • Jordi Remon, MD,
  • Jean-Charles Soria, MD, PhD,
  • Fabrice André, MD, PhD,
  • Gilles Vassal, MD, PhD,
  • Luc Friboulet, PhD,
  • Benjamin Besse, MD, PhD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 1, no. 2
p. 100023

Abstract

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Introduction: Despite initial benefit, virtually all patients suffering from EGFR-mutant NSCLC experience acquired resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), driven by multiple mechanisms. Recent reports have identified oncogenic kinase fusions as off-target resistance mechanisms; however, these alterations have been rarely investigated at EGFR TKIs progression. Methods: Patients with EGFR-mutated metastatic NSCLC (N = 62) with tissue and plasma biopsies at EGFR TKI progression between January 2015 and June 2019, at a French hospital and optionally before progression, were identified from the prospective MATCH-R study (NCT02517892). Postprogression biopsy samples were analyzed for gene fusions using targeted gene panel sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and comparative genomic hybridization array. Results: Six gene fusions were detected in tumor progression biopsies under an EGFR TKI from 62 consecutive patients (9.7%) with EGFR-mutated advanced NSCLC. Among 31 patients progressing to first- or second-generation EGFR TKIs, one (3%) had an Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4 gamma 2–GRB2 associated binding protein 1 (EIF4G2-GAB1) fusion. Among 31 patients progressing to the third-generation osimertinib, five (16%) presented oncogene fusions of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3–transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 (FGFR3-TACC3) (n = 2), kinesin family member 5B–Ret proto-oncogene (KIF5B-RET) (n = 1), striatin–anaplastic lymphoma kinase (STRN-ALK) (n = 1), and zinc finger DHHC-Type palmitoyltransferase 20–Thr790Met (ZDHHC20-BRAF) (n = 1) transcripts. Out of two patients that received osimertinib at first-line, one acquired an FGFR3-TACC3 fusion at progression. In all patients, fusions co-occurred with the original activating EGFR mutation; however, among four patients with an acquired T790M mutation, three (75%) lost the T790M mutation. Conclusions: Oncogenic fusions at the time of EGFR TKI resistance were identified at a relatively high frequency, mainly after the third-generation TKI osimertinib. Patients progressing to EGFR TKIs may have a new opportunity for targeted therapy when oncogenic fusions are identified.

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