Abstract 4389: TSC1/2 mutations define a molecular subset of HCC with aggressive behavior and treatment implication

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the mutational landscape of mTOR signaling cascade in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) with chronic hepatitis B (HBV) background, aiming to evaluate and delineate mutation-dependent mechanism of mTOR hyper-activation in hepatocarcinogenesis. We performed next-generation sequencing on human HCC samples and cell line panel. Systematic mutational screening of mTOR pathway-related genes was undertaken and mutant genes were evaluated based on their recurrence. Protein expressions of TSC1, TSC2 and pRPS6 were assessed by immunohistochemistry in human HCC samples. Rapamycin sensitivity was estimated by colony formation assay in HCC cell lines and the treatment was further tested using our patient derived tumor xenograft (PDTX) models. Results: We identified and confirmed multiple mTOR components as recurrently mutated in HBV-associated HCCs. Of significance, we detected frequent (16.2%, n = 18/111) mutations of TSC1 and TSC2 genes in the HCC samples. The spectrum of TSC1/2 mutations likely disrupts the endogenous gene functions in suppressing the downstream mTOR activity through different mechanisms and leading to more aggressive tumor behavior. Mutational disruption of TSC1 and TSC2 was also observed in HCC cell lines and our PDTX models. TSC-mutant cells exhibited reduced colony forming ability upon Rapamycin treatment. With the use of the biologically relevant TSC2-mutant PDTXs, we demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of the hyper-sensitivity towards Rapamycin treatment. Taken together, our findings suggest the significance of previously undocumented mutation-dependent mTOR hyper-activation and frequent TSC1/2 mutations in HBV-associated HCCs. They define a molecular subset of HCC having genetic aberrations in mTOR signaling, with potential significance of effective specific drug therapy. Citation Format: Daniel Wai Ho, Lo Kong Chan, Yung Tuen Chiu, Iris Ming Xu, Ronnie Poon, Tan To Cheung, Chung Ngai Tang, Victor Tang, Irene Lo, Polly Lam, Derek Yau, Miao Xin Li, Chun Ming Wong, Irene O. L. Ng. TSC1/2 mutations define a molecular subset of HCC with aggressive behavior and treatment implication [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2017; 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 4389. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-4389