Clonal Evolution and Heterogeneity of Osimertinib Acquired Resistance Mechanisms in EGFR Mutant Lung Cancer

Cell Rep Med. 2020 Apr 21;1(1):100007. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2020.100007.

Abstract

Clonal evolution of osimertinib-resistance mechanisms in EGFR mutant lung adenocarcinoma is poorly understood. Using multi-region whole-exome and RNA sequencing of prospectively collected pre- and post-osimertinib-resistant tumors, including at rapid autopsies, we identify a likely mechanism driving osimertinib resistance in all patients analyzed. The majority of patients acquire two or more resistance mechanisms either concurrently or in temporal sequence. Focal copy-number amplifications occur subclonally and are spatially and temporally separated from common resistance mutations such as EGFR C797S. MET amplification occurs in 66% (n = 6/9) of first-line osimertinib-treated patients, albeit spatially heterogeneous, often co-occurs with additional acquired focal copy-number amplifications and is associated with early progression. Noteworthy osimertinib-resistance mechanisms discovered include neuroendocrine differentiation without histologic transformation, PD-L1, KRAS amplification, and ESR1-AKAP12, MKRN1-BRAF fusions. The subclonal co-occurrence of acquired genomic alterations upon osimertinib resistance will likely require targeting multiple resistance mechanisms by combination therapies.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02759835.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Acrylamides / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aniline Compounds / therapeutic use*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Clonal Evolution* / drug effects
  • Clonal Evolution* / genetics
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / genetics*
  • ErbB Receptors / genetics
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Female
  • Genetic Heterogeneity / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Acrylamides
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • osimertinib
  • EGFR protein, human
  • ErbB Receptors

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02759835