Core homologous recombination mutations and improved survival in nonpancreatic GI cancers.

Abstract

663 Background: GI malignancies continue to be a major cause of cancer related deaths, despite advances in therapy options. In pancreatic cancer, the presence of homologous recombination mutations (HRM) has been shown to confer increased sensitivity to platinum chemotherapy. However, the role of HRM mutations in other GI cancers remains to be determined. The focus of this study is to evaluate the prognostic nature of core and noncore HRM in nonpancreatic GI cancers. Additionally, we aim to understand the predictive nature of these mutations related to platinum exposure. Methods: This was a retrospective review of patients at Moffitt Cancer Center with a primary stage IV nonpancreatic GI cancer treated with platinum therapy. All patients had next generation sequencing and were in the Clinical Genomics Action Committee database between 1/1/2013 and 11/1/2020. All patients had either a core HRM (BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2) or noncore HRM (such as ATM, ATR, BARD1, BRIP1, FANCA, NBN, and RAD51). Patients were grouped into core HRM vs. noncore HRM. Response was stratified between responders (complete response and partial response) vs. non responders (stable disease and progressive disease), based on RECIST criteria. Progression free survival and overall survival were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to assess the difference in progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) by HRM status and type of platinum therapy used. Results: There were 72 patients included in the study: the majority of patients were male (65.3%) and Caucasian (87.5%). Twenty-one (29.2%) patients had a core HRM and 51 (70.8%) had a noncore HRM. There was no significant difference in response rate between patients with core HRM and patients with noncore HRM for evaluable patients (n = 66): 20.0% of patients with core HRM vs. 21.7% of patients with noncore HRM demonstrated a response to platinum therapy (p = 0.41). An improved OS was noted for patients with core HRM vs. those with noncore HRM at 68.9 vs. 24.3 months (p = 0.019). An improved PFS was also seen in patients with core HRM at 10.4 months vs. 6.3 months with noncore HRM (p = 0.027). There was no difference in PFS based on type of platinum therapy used (oxaliplatin vs. carboplatin vs. cisplatin), while an improved OS was noted for patients treated with oxaliplatin vs. carboplatin vs. cisplatin at 43.1 vs. 28.2 vs. 16.0 months (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that in stage IV nonpancreatic GI malignancies treated with platinum therapy, patients with core HRM had a greater OS and PFS compared to those with noncore HRM, suggesting a potential prognostic and predictive role of these mutations. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.