Abstract 1670P
Background
In the phase Ib/II EVICT trial, the combination of vemurafenib and erlotinib demonstrated promising efficacy with response rates of 32% (10/31; 16% -5/31 confirmed) in patients (pts) with BRAF V600E mt mCRC and 43% (3/7) in pts with other cancers. The overall clinical benefit rate (partial response + stable disease) was 71% (27/38). Here we report the utility of ctDNA as a biomarker to predict outcomes and understand mechanisms of treatment resistance.
Methods
Serial plasma samples were available from 25 pts. Paired baseline and progression samples were analyzed by targeted sequencing (AVENIO ctDNA expanded assay, Roche diagnostics). Droplet digital PCR was used to serially monitor mutations of interest.
Results
BRAF V600E mt ctDNA was detected at baseline in 21/25 pts (84%). Other frequently altered genes included TP53 (60%), EGFR (52%), and MET (40%), with mutational burden higher in pts who did not derive clinical benefit (P=0.04). MET amplification was associated with inferior overall survival (OS) (median OS 4.9 vs 8.8 months; HR 2.2; [95% CI 0.84-6.0]; P=0.04). Decline in ctDNA levels (copies/mL) between baseline to week 2 was greater in pts who derived clinical benefit (P<0.001). Reduction in ctDNA variant allele fraction at 2 weeks predicted longer progression free survival (PFS) (median PFS 1.8 vs 6.4 months; HR 3.6, 95% CI 1.30-9.76, P<0.001) and OS (median OS 5.6 vs 9.9 months; HR 2.9, 95% CI 1.01-8.36, P<0.01). Of the 18 pts with plasma available at progression, 9/18 (50%) showed emergence of >1 KRAS or NRAS mutation. Polyclonal KRAS mutations were observed in 6/9 pts (67%). Other frequently acquired MAPK pathway alterations included MAP2K1 mutations (22%) and MET amplification (17%).
Conclusions
In pts with BRAF V600E mt cancers treated with vemurafenib and erlotinib, baseline ctDNA profile and an early decline in ctDNA were predictive of clinical outcomes. ctDNA analyses provided a mechanistic understanding of intrinsic and acquired resistance, revealing frequent evidence of convergent evolution and MAPK pathway reactivation as the dominant mechanism of therapeutic escape.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Funding
The Victorian Cancer Agency, Clinical Trials Grants; and Roche.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.