Comprehensive analysis of KRAS and NRAS mutations as predictive biomarkers for single agent panitumumab (pmab) response in a randomized, phase III metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) study (20020408).

Abstract

3617 Background: An exploratory biomarker analysis of the randomized, phase 3 monotherapy 20020408 study of pmab vs best supportive care (BSC) demonstrated that mutations in KRAS exon 3 and NRAS exons 2 and 3 appeared to be predictive of pmab response (Peeters et al, 2013). We expanded these results to determine whether mutations in exon 4 of the KRAS and NRAS genes are predictive for pmab treatment and to determine the treatment effect in the overall wild-type (WT) KRAS and NRAS population. Methods: Using a combination of Next Generation Sequencing, Sanger Sequencing, and WAVE-based SURVEYOR Scan Kits from Transgenomic, archival patient tumors were examined for mutations in KRAS and NRAS exon 4. These data were combined with previously presented data from KRAS and NRAS exon 2 and 3 analyses for evaluation of the comprehensive WT KRAS and NRAS subgroup. Results: 9/243 (3.7%) and 2/243 (0.8%) patient tumors with WT KRAS exon 2 status harbored a mutation in KRAS or NRAS exon 4, respectively. One tumor had mutations in both KRAS and NRAS exon 4. In the pmab arm, patients with WT KRAS and WT NRAS tumor status had an objective response rate (ORR) of 15% (11/72) whereas patients with mutant (MT) KRAS or MT NRAS tumor status had an ORR of 1% (1/95; 1 patient with MT KRAS exon 4 had a partial response). There were no responses in the BSC arm regardless of the tumor status. In this analysis set, the treatment hazard ratio (HR; pmab:BSC) for progression-free survival (PFS) in the WT KRAS and WT NRAS subgroup was 0.38 (95% CI: 0.27 - 0.56), and in the MT KRAS or MT NRAS subgroup was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.73 - 1.31). The original WT KRAS exon 2 subgroup PFS HR was 0.45 (95% CI: 0.34 - 0.59) (Amado et al, 2007). Conclusions: This exploratory analysis suggests that mutations in KRAS and NRAS exon 4 occur in a small, but meaningful percentage of patients with mCRC. Extending previous findings from this study in patients with MT KRAS and/or MT NRAS exon 2 and/or 3 tumors, patients with MT KRAS and/or MT NRAS exon 4 tumors do not appear to benefit from pmab therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT00113763.