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
4526 - Long-term outcome of neoadjuvant tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in locally advanced dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP)
Presenter: Jessica Beaziz
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1214 - Neo-adjuvant (NA) Imatinib for gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs): What is the optimal length of treatment?
Presenter: Tom Wilson
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2690 - Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) in adolescents and young adults (AYA)
Presenter: Nikki Ijzerman
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
4558 - Radiomics improves response evaluation for desmoid tumors treated with chemotherapy
Presenter: Amandine Crombe
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2751 - Radiomics of gastrointestinal stromal tumors; risk classification based on computed tomography images – a pilot study
Presenter: Milea Timbergen
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
2737 - Differentiating well-differentiated liposarcomas from lipomas using a radiomics approach
Presenter: Melissa Vos
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1282 - The immune landscape of chondrosarcoma reveals an anti inflammatory environment
Presenter: Iseulys Richert
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
1572 - Impact of Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy on Tumor Growth Rate in Sarcoma
Presenter: Esmail Al-ezzi
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3414 - DNA methylation profiles of angiosarcoma subtypes.
Presenter: Marije Weidema
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract
3411 - Prognostic significance of circulating PD-1, PD-L1, pan-BTN3As and BTN3A1 in patients with metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors (mGISTs)
Presenter: Daniele Fanale
Session: Poster Display session 1
Resources:
Abstract