Abstract 3633
Background
Aurora Kinases (AURK) regulate mitosis and are often upregulated in cancer. SCLC is characterized by TP53 and RB1 loss and frequent MYC amplification. Our group, and others, have proved that MYC-driven SCLC are vulnerable to AURKA-inhibitors (AURKAi), but their use is limited by toxicity due to high AURKA expression. AURKB levels are variable in SCLC, making AURKB an attractive targeted therapeutic approach. A novel AURKBi, AZD2811NP (nanoparticle), is now being investigated in relapsed SCLC patients (NCT02579226). We hypothesize that molecularly defined subsets may be sensitive to AZD2811.
Methods
We tested 50 human-derived SCLC cell lines with AZD2811 in 96 hour proliferation assays. To identify translatable biomarkers of response, we correlated IC50 values with genomic (WES), transcriptomic (RNASeq), and proteomic profiling (RPPA).
Results
AZD2811 is active in a subset of SCLC cells: 13/30 (26%) have high sensitivity (IC50<30 nM, Cmax) and 7/30 (14%) intermediate (IC50=30-100nM). Comparing protein expression, we found that cMYC (Fold change, FC:2.5; P = 0.015) and Vimentin (FC:1.66; P = 0.022) were top biomarkers of sensitivity, while high E-cadherin (FC:1.94; P = 0.046) and BCL-2 (FC:1.86; P = 0.032) associated with resistance. Interestingly, among the 13 highly sensitive cells, only 5 overexpress cMYC, highlighting that activity of AURKBi is not limited to MYC-driven SCLC. Indeed, among recently-described transcription factor defined subsets of SCLC, a majority of the NEUROD1-defined subset (cMYC enriched) were sensitive to AZD2811, as 25% of ASCL1- and 67% of POU2F-3-defined ones. These data suggest that the ASCL1 subset includes heterogeneous sub-groups that require further analysis to dissect their molecular features. Mutations in EP300, a Histone acetyltransferase that controls chromatin modification and transcription, also predict sensitivity.
Conclusions
Our results show encouraging single agent in vitro activity of AZD2811 in SCLC cells, and suggest a novel biomarker-driven approach for combinations. Candidate biomarkers will be tested in samples from the ongoing clinical trial. The high BCL2 levels observed in resistant cells provide a rationale for exploring AURKB/BCL2-i combinations.
Clinical trial identification
NCT02579226.
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
AstraZeneca.
Disclosure
C.A. Adelman: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. J. Travers: Full / Part-time employment: AstraZeneca. J. Heymach: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Licensing / Royalties: BioTree; Advisory / Consultancy: Boehringer Ingelheim; Advisory / Consultancy: Exelixis; Advisory / Consultancy: Genentech; Advisory / Consultancy: GSK; Advisory / Consultancy: Guardant Health; Advisory / Consultancy: Hengrui; Advisory / Consultancy: Lilly; Advisory / Consultancy: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self), Licensing / Royalties: Spectrum; Advisory / Consultancy: EMD Serono; Advisory / Consultancy: Synta; Research grant / Funding (self): Bayer; Research grant / Funding (self): GlaxoSmithKline. L.A. Byers: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): AstraZeneca; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): AbbVie; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): GenMab; Advisory / Consultancy: BergenBio; Advisory / Consultancy: Pharma Mar; Advisory / Consultancy: SA; Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (self): Sierra Oncology; Research grant / Funding (self): Tolero Pharmaceuticals. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
5103 - CANOPY phase 3 program: Three studies evaluating canakinumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Presenter: Luis Paz-Ares
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3666 - The Elderly Patient Individualized Chemotherapy (EPIC) trial, a study for an aged population of non-small cell lung cancer.
Presenter: Francesco Passiglia
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4799 - KEYNOTE-495/KeyImPaCT: A Randomized, Biomarker-Directed, Phase 2 Trial of Pembrolizumab-Based Therapy for Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Presenter: Martin Gutierrez
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
6035 - Safety, tolerability and activity of autologous T cells with enhanced T-cell receptors specific to NY ESO 1/LAGE 1a (GSK3377794) alone, or in combination with pembrolizumab, in advanced non small cell lung cancer: A Phase 1b/2a randomised pilot study
Presenter: Karen Reckamp
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2176 - IFCT-1701 DICIPLE: a randomized phase 3 trial comparing continuation Nivolumab-Ipilimumab doublet immunotherapy until progression versus observation in patients with PDL1-positive stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) after Nivolumab-Ipilimumab induction treatment
Presenter: Gerard Zalcman
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2352 - ATALANTE-1 randomized phase 3 trial, OSE-2101 versus standard treatment as second or third line in HLA-A2 positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients
Presenter: Enriqueta Felip
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2451 - Phase Ib dose-escalation/expansion study of BI 836880, a VEGF/Ang2-blocking nanobody®, in combination with BI 754091, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumours
Presenter: Nicolas Girard
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4285 - Radiosurgery followed by Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) for brain metastases (1-10) from NSCLC in the phase 3 METIS trial
Presenter: Minesh Mehta
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4909 - Nivolumab plus ipilimumab (NI) versus chemotherapy plus nivolumab (CN) in squamous cell lung cancer (SqCLC): the SQUINT trial
Presenter: Lorenza Landi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4125 - DUBLIN-3, a Stage IIIb/IV NSCLC Phase (Ph)3 Trial Comparing the Plinabulin (P)/Docetaxel(D) Combination with D Alone
Presenter: Ramon Mohanlal
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract