Abstract 3110
Background
In the era of individualized oncological therapy in bladder cancer, FGFR3 mutations, FGFR2/FGFR3 gene fusions and FGFR mRNA expression as potential oncological targets and their association to anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 (IO) treatment outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial cancer of the bladder (UCB) were studied in a German patient cohort.
Methods
Within a cohort of 72 patients with metastatic UCB from 5 academic centers in Germany (collected between 2016 and 2018) FGFR3 mutations, FGFR2 and FGFR3 gene fusions as well as FGFR expression in formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumour samples and their association to survival were examined using SNaPshot PCR, RT-qPCR as well as Next Generation Sequencing. Statistical analyses comprised Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, Spearman rank correlations, non-parametric testing.
Results
In 17% of all patients FGFR3 mutations or gene fusions could be detected. Patients with FGFR3 alterations did not have better outcome after immunoncology (IO) treatment, but rather tended to have inferior disease specific survival. All alterations of FGFR3 resulted in overexpression of FGFR3 mRNA. Combination of FGFR mutation analysis and FGFR mRNA assessment improved IO outcome prediction. Overexpression of FGFR3 mRNA was negatively associated with PDL1 expression (mRNA and protein level). High FGFR2 mRNA expression in primary tumors predicted better disease specific survival of UCB patients receiving IO therapy, whereas high FGFR3 mRNA expression was associated with tumor specific death in patients exhibiting of low FGFR2 mRNA expressions (p < 0.05). This high risk group of UCB patients exhibiting high mRNA levels FGFR3 comprises 40% of the total cohort.
Conclusions
The assessment of FGFR mRNA by standardized RT-qPCR identified a high risk UCB patient cohort, which does have inferior disease specific survival despite IO treatment and does overexpress FGFR3 mRNA. The assessment of FGFR mRNA levels by using this standardized, locally applicable FGFR test system could identify an FGFR inhibitor target population with poor response to IO treatment which is twice the size as currently detected by FGFR genomic alterations alone.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
BRIDGE Consortium e.V.
Funding
Janssen.
Disclosure
F. Roghmann: Advisory / Consultancy: Janssen; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Novartis; Advisory / Consultancy: Roche; Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Ipsen. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Resources from the same session
1885 - Factors associated with disease progression in patients treated with trametinib in combination with dabrafenib for unresectable advanced BRAFV600-mutant melanoma: an open label, non randomized study
Presenter: Philippe Saiag
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5259 - Integrative RNAseq and Target panel sequencing reveals common and distinct innate and adaptive resistance mechanisms to BRAF inhibitors
Presenter: Phil Cheng
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5619 - Effective treatment with T-VEC monotherapy in Stage IIIB/C-IVM1a Melanoma of the Head & Neck Region
Presenter: Viola Franke
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5666 - Re-introduction of T-VEC Monotherapy in Recurrent Stage IIIB/C-IVM1a melanoma is effective
Presenter: Viola Franke
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4117 - Efficacy of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) in melanoma patients (pts) with locoregional (LR) recurrence, including in-transit metastases (ITM): subgroup analysis of the phase 3 OPTiM study
Presenter: Mark Middleton
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
5303 - Real Life Use of Talimogene Laherparepvec in Melanoma in Centers in Austria and Switzeland
Presenter: Christoph Hoeller
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
4130 - Outcomes of advanced melanoma patients who discontinued pembrolizumab (pembro) after complete response (CR) in the French early access program (EAP)
Presenter: Philippe Saiag
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
2050 - Outcome of patients with elevated LDH treated with first-line targeted therapy (TT) or PD-1 based immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI)
Presenter: Sarah Knispel
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
1618 - Comparative-Effectiveness of Pembrolizumab vs. Nivolumab for Patients with Metastatic Melanoma
Presenter: Justin Moser
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract
3556 - Long-term efficacy of combination nivolumab and ipilimumab for first-line treatment of advanced melanoma: a network meta-analysis
Presenter: Peter Mohr
Session: Poster Display session 3
Resources:
Abstract