Abstract 3231
Background
Molecular profiling can identify potentially targetable mutations and facilitate treatment decisions. Recently BRAF mutant cell free DNA (cfDNA) was shown as an outcome predictor for melanoma patients on BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi). In this study we explore the potential of next generation sequencing (NGS) to molecularly characterise tissue and plasma and monitor outcome of melanoma patients.
Methods
Tumour DNA was isolated from paraffin blocks and cfDNA from plasma prospectively collected from melanoma patients. Deep sequencing using multigene panels (22 genes-tumour, 5 key genes-cfDNA) was performed by NGS on Ion Torrent. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, first month, best response and progression. Tissue:plasma concordance was assessed at baseline. Tumour burden and outcome were correlated with mutational load (cfDNA) assessed by % allelic frequency.
Results
Tissue and plasma samples were analysed for concordance from 43 metastatic melanoma (MM) patients (20 men 23 women, med age 62 yrs, 36 cutaneous 4 mucosal 2 ocular). Mutations were detected in 9 genes (BRAF 27, NRAS 3, KIT 2, GNAQ 1, KRAS 1, MAP2K1 1, MC1R 3, CDKN2A 2, p53 1, AKT3 1). Five patients had >1 mutation detected. A young patient with highly resistant MM had 4 simultaneous mutations (2 in resistance genes MAP2K1 and KRAS). Mutational concordance tissue:plasma was 72% (BRAF, NRAS). Seven patients with BRAF mutant MM in long remission with BRAFi had undetectable cfDNA mutational loads. Serial plasma samples were analysed from 3 BRAF mutant patients currently on BRAFi and 1 BRAF mutant patient on immune checkpoint inhibitor (IO). BRAF allelic load dramatically reduced to undetectable levels at 1st month of BRAFi, almost one month before radiological response. Interestingly, significant reduction of mutation levels was detected in the patient on IO correlating with rapid clinical response. Further patient analysis will be presented.
Conclusions
NGS tissue profiling is clinically relevant for melanoma providing prognostic information and cfDNA monitoring by NGS is feasible. In our population, serial plasma mutation assessment was in agreement with the clinical course and should be further explored as a monitoring tool of outcome.
Clinical trial identification
Legal entity responsible for the study
Metropolitan Hospital Scientific & Ethics Institutional Board
Funding
Hellenic Society for the Study of Melanoma (ELEMMEL)
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.