Cited by 571Lung Cancer Treatments and MutationsCancer Genomics and DiagnosticsHER2/EGFR in Cancer Research

Evolution and clinical impact of co-occurring genetic alterations in advanced-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancers

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Blakely, Collin M, Watkins, Thomas B K, Wu, Wei, Gini, Beatrice, Chabon, Jacob J, McCoach, Caroline E, McGranahan, Nicholas, Wilson, Gareth A +21 more·2017·Nature Genetics

Abstract

A widespread approach to modern cancer therapy is to identify a single oncogenic driver gene and target its mutant-protein product (for example, EGFR-inhibitor treatment in EGFR-mutant lung cancers). However, genetically driven resistance to targeted therapy limits patient survival. Through genomic analysis of 1,122 EGFR-mutant lung cancer cell-free DNA samples and whole-exome analysis of seven longitudinally collected tumor samples from a patient with EGFR-mutant lung cancer, we identified critical co-occurring oncogenic events present in most advanced-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancers. We defined new pathways limiting EGFR-inhibitor response, including WNT/β-catenin alterations and cell-cycle-gene (CDK4 and CDK6) mutations. Tumor genomic complexity increases with EGFR-inhibitor treatment, and co-occurring alterations in CTNNB1 and PIK3CA exhibit nonredundant functions that cooperatively promote tumor metastasis or limit EGFR-inhibitor response. This study calls for revisiting the prevailing single-gene driver-oncogene view and links clinical outcomes to co-occurring genetic alterations in patients with advanced-stage EGFR-mutant lung cancer.

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  • Several distinct patterns of co-mutations are enriched in metastatic disease, likely reflecting acquisition of traits that promote tumor progression and metastatic dissemination.

    “In particular, it is critical to distinguish between early-stage, surgically resected tumors and locally advanced or metastatic disease because several distinct patterns of co-mutations are enriched in metastatic disease, likely reflecting acquisition of traits that promote tumor progression and metastatic dissemination72, 73.”
  • Mutational inactivation of RB1 is a clonal and early genetic event in 9.5%-12.5% of EGFR-mutant LUAD.

    “Mutational inactivation of RB1 is a clonal and early genetic event in 9.5%−12.5% of EGFR-mutant LUAD72, 73, 103, 117.”
  • The overwhelming majority of EGFR-mutant lung tumors harbor one or more co-mutations, even when analysis is limited to pre-defined sets of cancer-relevant genes within established panels.

    “Although EGFR –mutant tumors represent the prototypical oncogene-addicted LUAD subgroup that spearheaded adoption of the single-driver model, the overwhelming majority of EGFR-mutant lung tumors harbor one or more co-mutations, even when the analysis is limited to pre-defined sets of cancer-relevant genes within established panels (FoundationOne, Guardant360, MSK-IMPACT)15, 59, 72, 73.”
  • In vitro, PIK3CA mutations that co-occur enhance invasion and migration of cells.

    “In vitro, co-occurring PIK3CA mutations promote cellular invasion and migration”
  • Some in vivo studies link co-occurring PIK3CA mutations to poorer overall survival.

    “in vivo they are associated with worse overall survival in some studies”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [11]Yu H Analysis of Mechanisms of Acquired Resistance to EGFR TKI therapy in 155 patients with EGFR-mutant Lung Cancers Clin Cancer Res 19 2240 2247 2013 23470965 PMC3630270

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Authors
Blakely, C. M., Watkins, T. B. K., Wu, W., Gini, B., Chabon, J. J., McCoach, C. E., McGranahan, N., Wilson, G. A., Birkbak, N. J., Olivas, V. R., Rotow, J., Maynard, A., Wang, V., Gubens, M. A., Banks, K. C., Lanman, R. B., Caulin, A. F., St John, J., Cordero, A. R., Giannikopoulos, P., Simmons, A. D., Mack, P. C., Gandara, D. R., Husain, H., Doebele, R. C., Riess, J. W., Diehn, M., Swanton, C., & Bivona, T. G.
Affiliations
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • The Francis Crick Institute (GB)
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • University of Colorado Anschutz (US)
  • Guardant (United States) (US)
  • Clovis Oncology (United States) (US)
  • UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
  • Swanton, Charles
  • Bivona, Trever G
Venue
Nature Genetics
Published
2017-11-06
Volume
49
Issue
12
Pages
1693-1704
ISSN
  • 1061-4036 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1718
OpenAlex
W2766316939
Cited by
571
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 32 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 42 · 2023: 79 · 2022: 63 · 2021: 93 · 2020: 89 · 2019: 70 · 2018: 49
FWCI
47.04
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature Genetics (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Francis Crick Institute (10169)
  • Cancer Research UK (20466, 19310, 17786)
  • Rosetrees Trust (M231-CD1)
  • Medical Research Council (MR/P014712/1)
  • National Cancer Institute (R01CA169338, DP2CA174497, U01CA217882, R01CA211052, P50CA058187, R01CA204302, U54CA224081)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › HER2/EGFR in Cancer Research
Keywords
EGFR-mutant lung cancer, EGFR inhibitor resistance, cell-free DNA, Wnt/β-catenin signaling, CTNNB1, PIK3CA, CDK4, CDK6, metastasis, combination therapy, advanced lung cancer
MeSH terms
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Mutation, Neoplasm Staging, Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic, Cyclin-Dependent Kinases, Cell Line, Tumor, Protein Kinase Inhibitors, Cell Proliferation, beta Catenin, Kaplan-Meier Estimate, Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases, Wnt Signaling Pathway, Clonal Evolution, ErbB Receptors

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