Oncogenic Driver In Lung Cancer Research Articles

P3.03I.10 RRAS and RRAS2 Mutations Are Oncogenic Drivers in Lung Cancer and are Sensitive to the Pan-RAS Inhibitor RMC-6236

P3.03I.10 RRAS and RRAS2 Mutations Are Oncogenic Drivers in Lung Cancer and are Sensitive to the Pan-RAS Inhibitor RMC-6236

Long non-coding RNA HIF1A-As2 and MYC form a double-positive feedback loop to promote cell proliferation and metastasis in KRAS-driven non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. KRAS is the main oncogenic driver in lung cancer that can be activated by gene mutation or amplification, but whether long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulate its activation remains unknown. Through gain and loss of function approaches, we identified that lncRNA HIF1A-As2, a KRAS-induced lncRNA, is required for cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and tumor propagation in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in vitro and in vivo. Integrative analysis of HIF1A-As2 transcriptomic profiling reveals that HIF1A-As2 modulates gene expression in trans, particularly regulating transcriptional factor genes including MYC. Mechanistically, HIF1A-As2 epigenetically activates MYC by recruiting DHX9 on MYC promoter, consequently stimulating the transcription of MYC and its target genes. In addition, KRAS promotes HIF1A-As2 expression via the induction of MYC, suggesting HIF1A-As2 and MYC form a double-regulatory loop to strengthen cell proliferation and tumor metastasis in lung cancer. Inhibition of HIF1A-As2 by LNA GapmeR antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) significantly improves sensitization to 10058-F4 (a MYC-specific inhibitor) and cisplatin treatment in PDX and KRASLSLG12D-driven lung tumors, respectively.

Survival outcomes and prognostic factors of lung cancer patients with the MET exon 14 skipping mutation: A single-center real-world study.

The MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) mutation is an important oncogenic driver in lung cancer. We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical data from lung cancer patients with the METex14 mutation to analyze their survival outcomes and associated prognostic factors. A one-step reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to examine the presence of the METex14 mutation was performed using RNA samples from 1374 lung cancer patients with no detected EGFR and ALK mutations. Pathological features and immunohistochemistry (IHC) results for c-MET were analyzed in patients with METex14-positive tumors. METex14 was identified in 69 patients with lung cancer, including 53 adenocarcinoma (ADC) and 16 non-ADC patients. In comparison with patients without the METex14 mutation, lung cancer patients harboring the METex14 mutation were generally elderly individuals, never-smokers, and had poor performance scores. A higher frequency of METex14 mutations was detected in pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma (PSC) patients (24.3%, n = 9/37). However, stage IV PSC patients with or without the METex14 mutations showed similarly poor overall survival (OS) (p = 0.429). For all 36 METex14-positive lung ADCs, multivariate analysis showed several poor prognostic factors, including strong c-MET IHC staining (p = 0.006), initial brain metastasis (p = 0.005), and administration of only supportive care (p < 0.001). After excluding seven patients who received only supportive care, we further analyzed 29 stage IV lung ADC patients with METex14 mutations who received anti-cancer treatment. Multivariate analysis showed that pemetrexed treatment (p = 0.003), lung radiotherapy (p = 0.020), initial brain metastasis (p = 0.005), and strong c-MET IHC staining (p = 0.012) were independent prognostic factors for OS in these patients. A higher frequency of METex14 mutations was detected in PSC patients. Stage IV PSC patients with or without the METex14 mutations had similarly poor overall survival. Pemetrexed-based chemotherapy, strong c-MET ICH staining, initial brain metastasis, and lung radiotherapy, may help predict survival outcomes in patients with advanced lung ADCs harboring the METex14 mutation.

ALK-positive lung cancer: a moving target.

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a potent oncogenic driver in lung cancer. ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors yield significant benefit in patients with ALK fusion-positive (ALK+) lung cancers; yet the durability of response is limited by drug resistance. Elucidation of on-target resistance mechanisms has facilitated the development of next-generation ALK inhibitors, but overcoming ALK-independent resistance mechanisms remains a challenge. In this Review, we discuss the molecular underpinnings of acquired resistance to ALK-directed therapy and highlight new treatment approaches aimed at inducing long-term remission in ALK+ disease.

LTK fusions: A new target emerges in non-small cell lung cancer.

Identification of targetable fusions as oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer has transformed its diagnostic and therapeutic paradigm. In a recent article in Nature, Izumi etal. report the discovery of CLIP1-LTK fusion as a novel oncogenic driver in lung cancer, targetable using the ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor lorlatinib.

Novel MET exon 14 skipping analogs characterized in non-small cell lung cancer patients: A case study

MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) is a validated oncogenic driver in lung cancer and MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors are now available as effective clinical treatments. The majority of known METex14 alterations are typical donor/acceptor splicing or ubiquitination site mutations. Herein, two new METex14 variants were detected in two patients with lung adenocarcinoma by targeted next generation sequencing (NGS). Reverse transcription (RT)-based analysis confirmed that these mutations led to MET exon 14 skipping. Our analysis provided evidence for possible targeted therapy options for patients carrying these MET mutations or similar METex14 analogs.

Emergence of NOTCH2-NTRK1 After Osimertinib in a Patient With Lung Adenocarcinoma With Neuroendocrine Differentiation

Clinical Practice Points • Osimertinib is widely used in patients with lung cancer with EGFR T790M after EGFR TKI treatment with high efficacy and approved in first-line treatment for all EGFR positive patients. However, the resistance profile to osimertinib is not well-elucidated. NTRK fusions are rare oncogenic drivers in lung cancer. • Here, we report a NOTCH2–NTRK1 rearranged fusion in lung adenocarcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation after osimertinib treatment. The patient had significantly improved clinical symptoms and had stable disease for 2 months after larotrectinib and osimertinib treatment, with significant decrease in NOTCH2-NTRK1 fusion (AF from 24.85% to 0.63%). • The emergence of NTRK fusions after osimertinib treatment may suggest a therapeutic target. NTRK fusions screening is important after osimertinib resistance.

Progress on treatment of MET signaling pathway in non-small cell lung cancer

MET activation includes gene mutation, amplification, and protein overexpression. Clinical evidence suggests that MET activation is both a primary oncogenic driver in lung cancer, and a secondary driver after acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Several small molecule TKIs have already shown to be effective in the MET pathway. However, the activation form and the diagnostic criteria of MET oncogene are still controversial, especially in patients resistant to EGFR TKIs or ALK TKIs. With the development of new MET inhibitors, a quantity of emerging trials has focused on the mechanism of acquired resistance to MET TKIs and therapeutic strategies after resistance.

Genomic characterization and outcome evaluation of kinome fusions in a large non-small cell lung cancer population.

9620 Background: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Kinase fusion represents an important type of somatic alterations which promote oncogenesis and serve as a diagnostic marker in lung cancer. This study aims to identify the landscape of kinase fusions in lung cancer and expand our understanding of druggable fusions, together providing valuable information for therapeutics decision making. Methods: We performed genomic profiling of tumor/plasma biopsies of a total of 18,839 Chinese lung cancer patients using next generation sequencing (NGS) by targeting 425 cancer-relevant genes. Patients’ clinical characteristics and treatment history were retrospectively studied. Results: A total of 1,048 patients (5.56%, 1,048/18,839) were identified with kinase fusions, including 815 adenocarcinomas (ADCs) and 34 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs). Briefly, a total of 198 unique gene fusion events have been observed, including 37 recurrent fusions and 114 novel fusions which have previously not been documented. ADC patients with kinase fusions were relatively younger than SCC patients (median: 53 vs 61 years old, p&lt; 0.01). The most frequently observed fusion was EML4-ALK for both ADCs (50.0%) and SCCs (32.4%), followed by FGFR3-TACC3 (29.4%) in SCCs and KIF5B-RET (11.8%), CD74-ROS1 (9.2%), CCDC6-RET (3.9%) and SLC34A2-ROS1 (2.3%) in ADCs, retrospectively. A total of 14 recurrent fusions including FN1-ALK, MEMO1-ALK, CUX1-ALK, KIF13A-RET and PHF20-NTRK1 were also identified at low frequencies. Of note, EML4- or STRN- ALK fusion events mainly rearranged in the intron 19 of ALK, but the breakpoints of VCL-ALK were mostly located upstream of ALK exon 18. Meanwhile, CD74-, SLC34A2- and TPM3- ROS1 rearrangement mainly occurred in the ROS1 introns 31, 33 and 34. In addition, among patients with novel fusions, RORB- ALK and AFF2-RET may potentially function as oncogenic drivers in lung cancer and have demonstrated clinical benefit from crizotinib treatment. Conclusions: Our data have depicted a comprehensive overview of the landscape of kinase fusions in lung cancer, which helps recognize potentially druggable fusions and translate into therapeutic applications.

Identification of kinase domain duplications across diverse cancer types in Chinese population by comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP).

e13522 Background: Kinase domain duplication (KDD) has recently been recognized as oncogenic and targetable mutations in some cancers. EGFR KDD was identified as an oncogenic driver in lung cancer showing partial response to EGFR TKI. BRAF KDD was reported in diverse tumor types with clinical response to RAF-targeted therapy. We retrospectively investigated the prevalence of KDDs in multiple cancer types of a large Chinese population. Methods: 50742 unique cancer cases were analyzed by comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens (FFPEs), fresh tissue, blood or plasma samples and sequenced with gene panels targeting 400+ cancer-relevant genes. Among them, 53 cases were detected with KDD of various kinases. Results: In this Chinese cohort, KDD was identified in 0.1% of the total population across multiple cancer types including lung cancer (39), breast cancer (5), gastric cancer (3), colorectal cancer (2), mucoepidermoid carcinoma (1), unknown (3). The median age at diagnosis was 54 which was younger than the 60 yrs median age of total population. The distribution of KDDs was in EGFR(34) MET(5), JAK1(2), BRAF(2), FGFR2(2), FGFR1(1), JAK2(1), LYN(1), MAP3K1(1), RAF1(1), RET(1), AKT3(1), and CDK8(1). Thirty-one lung cancer cases were detected with EGFR-KDD, including kinase duplications of exon18-25 (22), exon17-25 (6), exon18-26 (2), exon14-26(1). Three patients with EGFR-KDD exon18-25 showed partial anti-tumor response to target therapy. MET-KDD was exclusively found in lung cancer involving the duplication of MET exon15-21 (2), exon14-17 (1), exon15-16 (1) and exon12-21 (1) while FGFR1/2-KDD was observed only in gastric cancer. Two female patients with breast cancer were detected with JAK1-KDD at age of 45 and 37, respectively. The canonical BRAF-KDD of exon 10-18 was identified in one female patient diagnosed of lung adenocarcinoma at age of 49. Frequently altered genes in patients with KDD were TP53(72%), EGFR (23%), FAT1(13%), BRCA1(10%). MCL1 amplification, a known oncogenic alteration, was identified in fifteen patients (11 EGFR-KDD,2 MET-KDD, 1 BRAF-KDD, 1 JAK2-KDD), representing the most common copy number variation observed. Conclusions: Kinase KDDs were rare but potentially oncogenic mutations in diverse cancer types with clinical outcome of EGFR-KDD to target therapy in lung cancer. Cancer-type specific KDDs were identified including MET-KDD in lung cancer, FGFR1/2-KDD in gastric cancer and JAK1-KDD in breast cancer.

Co-Occurring Alterations of ERBB2 Exon 20 Insertion in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and the Potential Indicator of Response to Afatinib.

Background: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (ERBB2, HER-2) exon 20 insertion (ERBB2ex20ins) remains a refractory oncogenic driver in lung cancer. So far there is limited data showing the co-occurring mutation background of ERBB2ex20ins in Chinese lung cancer and its relationship with response to afatinib.Patients and Methods: A total of 112 Chinese patients with ERBB2ex20ins identified by next-generation sequencing from 17 hospitals were enrolled. The clinical outcomes of 18 patients receiving afatinib treatment were collected.Results: Among the 112 patients, insertion-site subtypes comprised of A775ins (71%; 79/112), G776indel (17%; 19/112), and P780ins (12%; 14/112). There were 66.1% (74/112) of patients carrying TP53 co-mutation and FOXA1 was the most prevalent co-amplified gene (5.5%, 3/55). The co-occurring genomic feature was similar among three insertional-site subtypes and had an overall strong concordance with the western population from the MSKCC cohort (R2 = 0.74, P < 0.01). For the prognosis, patients with co-occurring mutation in cell-cycle pathway especially TP53 showed shorter OS than patients without [median OS: 14.5 m (95% CI:12.7–16.3 m) vs. 30.3 m (95% CI: not reached), p = 0.04], while the OS was comparable among three subtypes. For the response to afatinib, ERBB2ex20ins as a subclonal variant was an independent factor relating to shorter PFS [median PFS: 1.2 m (95% CI: 0.8–1.6 m) vs. 4.3 m (95% CI: 3.3–5.3 m), p < 0.05].Conclusion: Our data revealed co-occurring TP53 represent an unfavorable prognosis of patients with ERBB2ex20ins, emphasizing the more valuable role of the co-mutation patterns than insertion-site subtypes in predicting prognosis of this group of patients. Moreover, the clonality status of ERBB2ex20ins was identified as a potential indicator for response to afatinib.

Association between EGFR mutation and ageing, history of pneumonia and gastroesophageal reflux disease among patients with advanced lung cancer

BackgroundEpidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation is the most frequently encountered oncogenic driver in lung cancer. Risk factors for EGFR mutation may help prevention, surveillance and diagnosis strategies of EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Patients and methodsA nationwide, retrospective, longitudinal, cohort study was performed between January 2002 and December 2015. Patient data were collected from the Korean National Health Insurance Database. The lung cancer group included EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)–treated patients. Controls were randomly selected from people without a history of lung cancer and determined to be four times the number of patients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer. The risk model of developing EGFR-mutated lung cancer was constructed by multiple logistic regression analysis. ResultsAmong the 2010 new cases of lung cancer treated in 2010–2015, 214 cases were classified as EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer. The risk of developing EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer was higher in patients in their 50s (odds ratio [OR]: 3.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.68–6.93), 60s (OR: 7.04; 95% CI: 3.35–14.77) and 70s (OR: 10.27; 95% CI: 4.73–22.30) and in those aged >80 years (OR: 5.98; 95% CI: 2.25–15.92) than those in their 40s. The risk of developing EGFR-mutated lung cancer was also higher in hospitalised patients with a history of pneumonia (OR: 5.22; 95% CI: 1.88–14.46) and those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.32–3.07). ConclusionsPatients with EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer were associated with ageing, history of being hospitalised for pneumonia and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Targeting oncogenic drivers in lung cancer: Recent progress, current challenges and future opportunities.

Targeted therapies have changed the landscape of treatments for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Specific targeted therapies have been approved for NSCLC patients harboring genetic alterations in four oncogenes, and agents targeting additional oncogenic drivers are under investigation. Standard first-line chemotherapy has been supplanted by these targeted therapies due to superior efficacy and lower toxicity. Despite excellent response rates and durable responses in some cases, most patients experience relapse within a few years due to the development of acquired drug resistance. Next generation targeted therapies are being developed to overcome drug resistance and extend the duration of therapy. In this review, we summarize the current treatment strategies for the major targetable oncogenic mutations/alterations in NSCLC and discuss the mechanisms leading to acquired drug resistance.

A systematic analysis of orphan cyclins reveals CNTD2 as a new oncogenic driver in lung cancer

As lung cancer has increased to the most common cause of cancer death worldwide, prognostic biomarkers and effective targeted treatments remain lacking despite advances based on patients’ stratification. Multiple core cyclins, best known as drivers of cell proliferation, are commonly deregulated in lung cancer where they may serve as oncogenes. The recent expansion of the cyclin family raises the question whether new members might play oncogenic roles as well. Here, we investigated the protein levels of eight atypical cyclins in lung cancer cell lines and formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) human tumors, as well as their functional role in lung cancer cells. Of the new cyclins evaluated, CNTD2 was significantly overexpressed in lung cancer compared to adjacent normal tissue, and exhibited a predominant nuclear location. CNTD2 overexpression increased lung cancer cell viability, Ki-67 intensity and clonogenicity and promoted lung cancer cell migration. Accordingly, CNTD2 enhanced tumor growth in vivo on A549 xenograft models. Finally, the analysis of gene expression data revealed a high correlation between elevated levels of CNTD2 and decreased overall survival in lung cancer patients. Our results reveal CNTD2 as a new oncogenic driver in lung cancer, suggesting value as a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in this disease.

Abstract B71: Circulating PD-1+CD8+T cells reflect response to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Abstract The programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death-1 ligand (PD-L1) pathway plays a crucial role in tumor evasion. Alteration in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) and KRAS are oncogenic drivers in lung cancer and activation of this pathway is a critical event during lung tumorigenesis. However, how this oncogenic signaling influences immunity in the tumor microenvironment is just beginning to be understood. According to other report, expression of mutant EGFR in bronchial epithelial cells induces PD-L1 and PD-L1 expression is reduced by EGFR inhibitors in lung cancer cell lines with activated EGFR mutation. Thus, we evaluated the levels of PD-1+ T cells in peripheral blood according to the response of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients. Blood samples of NSCLC patients were obtained at baseline and after EGFR TKI treatment. Flow cytometry was used to detect PD-1 expressing CD4 or CD8 T cells. Total 53 patients were enrolled in the study. 17 patients had EGFR mutation and treated with EGFR TKIs. The expression of PD-1+CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood are increased according to their clinical stage. The expression levels of PD-1+CD8+ T cells significantly decreased after EGFR TKIs treatment (pretreatment vs. post-treatment 0.93±1.25% vs. 0.43±0.59%, P=0.006). Post/pre EGFR TKIs treatment ratio of PD-1+CD8+ T cells was lower in partial response group than stable disease group (0.19±0.17 vs. 0.9±0.68, P=0.017). So this result showed that PD-1+CD8+ T cells was more decreased in good responder group. EGFR mutant lung tumor inhibited antitumor immunity by activating PD-1 and PD-1 expression was reduced by EGFR TKI, which was proportional to treatment response. In conclusion, the change of PD-1+CD8+ T cell in peripheral blood may be a surrogate marker to predict EGFR TKIs treatment response. Citation Format: Sung Yong Lee, Sungjong Lee, Jee Youn Oh, Kyung Hoon Min, Gyu Young Hur, Jae Jeong Shim, Kyung Ho Kang. Circulating PD-1+CD8+T cells reflect response to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy; 2016 Oct 20-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Immunol Res 2017;5(3 Suppl):Abstract nr B71.

The Prognostic Impact of Jumonji Domain-containing 2B in Patients with Resected Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Jumonji domain-containing 2B, JMJD2B, has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer cells. However, the significance of JMJD2B in patients with lung cancer remains to be elucidated. Seventy-eight patients with resected adenocarcinoma, whose data regarding oncogenic drivers in lung cancer were available, were included in the study. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed with a specific antibody for JMJD2B to investigate JMJD2B expression and the significance of JMJD2B expression in survival after surgery was evaluated. Among the 78 patients, 50 (64%) exhibited JMJD2B immunopositivity. The overall survival (OS) of the 50 JMJD2B-positive patients after surgery was significantly inferior to that of the JMJD2B-negative patients (five-year survival=56.7% vs. 92.6%; log-rank: p=0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that JMJD2B positivity was an independent prognostic factor. JMJD2B may be a novel prognostic factor for resected lung adenocarcinoma.

A sensitive and high throughput TaqMan-based reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay efficiently discriminates ALK rearrangement from overexpression for lung cancer FFPE specimens

ObjectivesALK fusion gene is an oncogenic driver in lung cancer with low prevalence, which can be ameliorated by crizotinib. Currently, ALK fusion gene can be diagnosed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), but inconstistnt results between the two methods are encountered regularly. To make the ALK fusion gene screening more efficient and to provide a simple solution to clarify the discrepancy between FISH and IHC results, a sensitive TaqMan-based reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay was established. Materials and methodsThe 3-plex TaqMan-based RT-qPCR assay was established and performed on 102 archived formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) NSCLC samples to detect ALK rearrangement and overexpression. Break-apart FISH and automatic immunohistochemistry based ALK assays were performed side by side using tissue microarray. ResultsThe RT-qPCR was performed successfully for 80 samples and 10 of them showed positive signals. Three out of the 10 qPCR positive cases were further confirmed by FISH and IHC test. Two others were IHC positive and FISH negative, and expressed full-length ALK transcript. The rest were neither FISH nor IHC positive and their ALK expression level was significantly lower than those FISH or IHC positive cases. ConclusionOur RT-qPCR assay demonstrates that the capability and reliability of ALK detection is comparable to FISH and IHC, but it is more effective at discriminating ALK rearrangement from overexpression. The RT-qPCR assay easily clarifies the discrepancy between FISH and IHC, and can be incorporated into routine ALK screening for lung cancer.

Control of PD-L1 Expression by Oncogenic Activation of the AKT-mTOR Pathway in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Alterations in EGFR, KRAS, and ALK are oncogenic drivers in lung cancer, but how oncogenic signaling influences immunity in the tumor microenvironment is just beginning to be understood. Immunosuppression likely contributes to lung cancer, because drugs that inhibit immune checkpoints like PD-1 and PD-L1 have clinical benefit. Here, we show that activation of the AKT-mTOR pathway tightly regulates PD-L1 expression in vitro and in vivo. Both oncogenic and IFNγ-mediated induction of PD-L1 was dependent on mTOR. In human lung adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, membranous expression of PD-L1 was significantly associated with mTOR activation. These data suggest that oncogenic activation of the AKT-mTOR pathway promotes immune escape by driving expression of PD-L1, which was confirmed in syngeneic and genetically engineered mouse models of lung cancer where an mTOR inhibitor combined with a PD-1 antibody decreased tumor growth, increased tumor-infiltrating T cells, and decreased regulatory T cells.

Final Results of a Phase II Study of Bevacizumab, Cisplatin and Pemetrexed as First-Line Therapy for Patients with Advanced Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Background: Efficacy and safety data for cisplatin and pemetrexed plus bevacizumabinnon squamousnon non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are still limited. Nevertheless, either bevacizumab plus platinum doublet or pemetrexed plus platinum is approved options for first line therapy. Predictive factors for bevacizumab are needed. KRAS is one of the most common oncogenic drivers in lung cancer. Its prognostic and predictive value in NSCLC is under investigation. Patients and methods: This trial evaluates the addition of bevacizumab 7.5 mg/kg to cisplatin 75 mg/m2 plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 as first line treatment in stage IV non-squamous NSCLC patients. Maintenance bevacizumab was received as monotherapy until progressive disease, unacceptable toxicityor consent with drawal. The primary objective was progression free survival (PFS). Secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), safety, global objective responses and the determination of KRAS mutation at baseline. Results: From March 2009 to March 2012, 31 patients were enrolled. Mean age was 59.19 (standard deviation (SD) 8.53). From all the patients included in this trial, 67.70% were men. KRAS was wild type in 19 patients (58.06%); in 7 (22.58%) was mutated and was unknown in 6 patients (19.35%). Median PFS for KRAS mutated patients was 4 months, whereas for the KRAS wild type it was 7.9 months (P = 0.0031). Median OS was 4 months for the KRAS population, and 16.1 months for the KRAS wild type (P = 0.0032). Twenty four patients (77.42%) experienced at least a grade 3 - 4 adverse event. The most common grade 3 - 4 toxicity was asthenia. Conclusions: Both PFS and OS were statistically longer for the KRAS wild type patients compared with the KRAS mutated population (P = 0.0031). Median OS was shorter than the reported in previous trials with bevacizumab. Nevertheless, focussing on the OS for KRAS wild type patients, this achieves a result or 16.1 months. Therefore, this would be a consistent data supporting to qualify this parameter as a predictive factor before starting treatment for NSCLC.

Targeting oncogenic drivers in lung cancer: celebrating a decade of progress

Targeting oncogenic drivers in lung cancer: celebrating a decade of progress