Influence of WNT and DNA damage response pathway alterations on outcomes in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer.

Abstract

3585 Background: We assembled a large series of consecutive patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) to identify genomic biomarkers of response and survival. Methods: Patients with unresectable mCRC treated at Memorial Sloan Kettering with genomic tumor profiling between 2014 and 2017 were included. Patients who underwent upfront metastasectomy or received neoadjuvant/conversion chemotherapy were excluded. Clinical information was retrieved from electronic medical records, and we evaluated associations between genomic profiles with progression free survival (PFS) on first-line chemotherapy and overall survival (OS). Categorical data were analyzed by Fisher exact test and time-to-event data were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Of 1453 mCRCs profiled in this period, 471 patients met the study criteria. Median age was 59 years (range, 18 to 95), and 73% of patients were stage IV at diagnosis. Most tumors (91%) were microsatellite stable (MSS). The most frequent first-line regimen was FOLFOX +/- bevacizumab (66%). Among MSS patients treated with oxaliplatin-containing regimens (n = 305), 7% harbored alterations in genes associated with DNA damage response (DDR) (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, PALB2). DDR gene alterations were not associated with PFS (P = 0.94) nor were different quartiles of large-state transitions (P = 0.54). Genomic alterations that significantly varied by duration of response included BRAF (16%, 10%, and 5% for PFS < 6 months, 6-12 months, and > 12 months, respectively) and APC (62%, 74%, and 80% for PFS < 6 months, 6-12 months, and > 12 months, respectively). APC mutation, single or dual, was associated with significantly longer PFS (HR 0.67) and OS (HR 0.59) in multivariate analysis versus no WNT pathway alteration or alterations in other WNT pathway genes (RNF43, AXIN2, CTNNB1). Conclusions: In unresectable mCRC patients, mutations in APC were associated with better outcomes; absence of an APC alteration or the occurrence of other WNT pathway alterations was associated with shorter survival. Somatic alterations in DDR genes were not associated with outcomes in mCRC patients receiving oxaliplatin-containing regimen.