Abstract 4634
Background
Several studies in BRAFV600E colorectal cancers (CRC) have failed to replicate the efficacy of BRAF inhibitors in treatment of BRAFV600E melanomas (Mel), suggesting the existence of different resistance mechanisms as well as molecular and biological differences between the 2 tumor types. Herein, we examine these differences.
Methods
Tumor samples submitted to Caris Life Sciences for NGS DNA sequencing (592 gene panel) and RNA sequencing (54 gene panel) between the years 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively studied. Only microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors with either BRAFV600E mutation or wild type (WT) BRAF status were included in this initial analysis. Chi-square tests determined differences.
Results
A total of 8409 tumor samples were analyzed: CRC (N = 7453: BRAFV600E=373; WT = 7080) and Mel samples (N = 956: BRAFV600E=274; WT = 682). The most frequently mutated genes in BRAFV600E CRC were TP53 (81%), APC (26%), and SMAD4 (22.4%), compared to CDKN2A (22%), PTEN (13%), and TP53 (13%) in BRAFV600E Mel. Molecular alterations that are significantly more frequent in BRAFV600E CRC vs BRAFV600E Mel but not significantly different between BRAF WT CRC vs BRAF WT Mel included RSPO3 fusions (CRC=22.6% vs Mel=0%, P = 0.027); RNF43 deletions (2.0% vs 0%, p = 0.019); and mutations in RNF43 (18.8% vs 0%, P < 0.001), AKT1 (3.5% vs 0.4%, p = 0.008), and MTOR (2.4% vs 0.4%, p = 0.037). RSPO3 fusions and RNF43 mutations/deletions are mutually exclusive. Significantly more frequent alterations in BRAFV600E Mel compared to BRAFV600E CRC (but not in either WT) included deletions in PTEN (7% vs 3%, p = 0.005) and mutations in PTEN (12.9% vs 5.4%), MITF (1.9% vs 0%), STK11 (1.5% vs 0%), ERCC2 (1.1% vs 0%), FANCC (1.2% vs 0%), and CDK4 (1.5% vs 0%) (p < 0.05 for all).
Conclusions
BRAFV600E CRC carry molecular alterations that are distinct from BRAFV600E Mel. RSPO3 fusions and RNF43 alterations are prevalent in BRAFV600E CRC tumors in a mutually exclusive manner, suggesting that Wnt pathway activation via genetic alterations in upstream Wnt pathway regulators may play an important role in BRAFV600E CRC tumorigenesis and resistance to BRAF inhibitors. Drug combinations that target both the MAPK and Wnt pathways may warrant further investigation.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
M.E. Salem: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Caris Life Sciences. J. Xiu: Full / Part-time employment: Caris Life Sciences. A. Grothey: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Caris Life Sciences. R.M. Goldberg: Research grant / Funding (self), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Caris Life Sciences. Z. Gatalica: Full / Part-time employment: Caris Life Sciences. R. Feldman: Full / Part-time employment: Caris Life Sciences. M. Saul: Full / Part-time employment: Caris Life Sciences. W..M. Korn: Full / Part-time employment: Caris Life Sciences. A.F. Shields: Research grant / Funding (institution), Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Caris Life Sciences. J.L. Marshall: Advisory / Consultancy: Caris Life Sciences. H.J. Lenz: Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Caris Life Sciences. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
4370 - Continental differences in pathologic response with neoadjuvant ipilimumab (IPI) plus nivolumab (NIVO) in patients with macroscopic stage III melanoma in the phase 2 OpACIN-neo trial.
Presenter: Irene Reijers
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3230 - Comparable responses of melanoma at primary site and synchronous lymph node metastases upon neoadjuvant ipilimumab (IPI) and nivolumab (NIVO)
Presenter: Judith Versluis
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3171 - Adjuvant Therapies for Stage III Melanoma: Benchmarks for Bringing Clinical Trials to Clinical Practice
Presenter: Tina HIEKEN
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3493 - Mixture-cure modeling for resected stage III/IV melanoma in the phase 3 CheckMate 238 trial
Presenter: Jeffrey Weber
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3036 - An open-label, non-randomized, phase IIIb study of trametinib in combination with dabrafenib for patients with unresectable advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma: a subgroup analysis of patients with brain metastasis
Presenter: Caroline Dutriaux
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2233 - Adverse event (AE) kinetics in patients (pts) treated with dabrafenib + trametinib (D + T) in the metastatic and adjuvant setting
Presenter: Jean Jacques Grob
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2435 - A Single Arm, Open Label, Phase II, Multicenter Study to Assess the Detection of the BRAF V600 Mutation on cfDNA from Plasma in Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Presenter: Piotr Rutkowski
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1766 - Efficacy and Safety of Dabrafenib and Trametinib in Patients with Metastatic BRAFV600 Mutation-positive Melanoma in the Real-World Setting – Interim results of the non-interventional COMBI-r study
Presenter: Carola Berking
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2131 - Trial update: A randomized Phase Ib/II study of the selective small molecule Axl inhibitor Bemcentinib (BGB324) in combination with either dabrafenib/trametinib (D/T) or pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic melanoma
Presenter: Oddbjørn Straume
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4074 - Analysis of pyrexia in patients (pts) treated with dabrafenib (D) and/or trametinib (T) across clinical trials
Presenter: Caroline Robert
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract