Therapeutic vulnerabilities and pan-cancer landscape of BRAF class III mutations in epithelial solid tumors

Abstract

Background: Kinase-impaired class III BRAF mutations have recently received attention as a possible prognostic factor and therapeutic target. Class III BRAF variants differ from class I and class II mutations in terms of mechanism of pathway activation and therapeutic vulnerabilities. Genomic landscape analyses of tumors in large real-world cohorts represent a great opportunity to further characterize tumor-related molecular events and treatment vulnerabilities, however, such data is not yet available for tumors with BRAF class III mutations.

Methods: We investigated the pan-cancer genomic landscape of BRAF class III mutations in 376,302 patients. Patients had comprehensive genomic profiling either by FoundationOne® or FoundationOne®CDx from formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue biopsies. 2 patient cases that harbored BRAF class III mutations who demonstrated dramatic response to anti-EGFR treatment were presented.

Results: BRAF class III mutations are likely to co-occur with RAF1, NRAS and HRAS alterations, while concomitant KRAS alterations were rare. Moreover, we found that alterations that predict resistance to anti-EGFR agents were significantly less common in tumors harboring BRAF class III mutations, which is of great importance as anti-EGFR therapies are a potential targeted treatment option in these tumors.

Discussion: Our findings suggest a heterogenous interplay of oncogenic alterations in BRAF class III mutated tumors and have important implications for the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis while revealing potential therapeutic vulnerabilities.

Highlights: Tumors harboring BRAF class III (BRAF vIII) mutations comprise a novel subset with distinct genomic heterogeneity. BRAF vIII mutations may sensitize tumors to anti-EGFR treatments. BRAF vIII alterations show significantly less co-occurrence with alterations that predict resistance to anti-EGFR agents. Rare tumors with limited therapy options should be screened for BRAF vIII mutations as they may benefit from anti-EGFR agents.