Cited by 529Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase SignalingLung Cancer Treatments and MutationsMelanoma and MAPK Pathways

Clinical Acquired Resistance to KRASG12C Inhibition through a Novel KRAS Switch-II Pocket Mutation and Polyclonal Alterations Converging on RAS–MAPK Reactivation

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Tanaka, Noritaka, Lin, Jessica J., Li, Chendi, Ryan, Meagan B., Zhang, Junbing, Kiedrowski, Lesli A., Michel, Alexa G., Syed, Mohammed U. +12 more·2021·Cancer Discovery

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Mutant-selective KRASG12C inhibitors, such as MRTX849 (adagrasib) and AMG 510 (sotorasib), have demonstrated efficacy in KRASG12C-mutant cancers, including non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, mechanisms underlying clinical acquired resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors remain undetermined. To begin to define the mechanistic spectrum of acquired resistance, we describe a patient with KRASG12C NSCLC who developed polyclonal acquired resistance to MRTX849 with the emergence of 10 heterogeneous resistance alterations in serial cell-free DNA spanning four genes (KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, MAP2K1), all of which converge to reactivate RAS–MAPK signaling. Notably, a novel KRASY96D mutation affecting the switch-II pocket, to which MRTX849 and other inactive-state inhibitors bind, was identified that interferes with key protein–drug interactions and confers resistance to these inhibitors in engineered and patient-derived KRASG12C cancer models. Interestingly, a novel, functionally distinct tricomplex KRASG12C active-state inhibitor RM-018 retained the ability to bind and inhibit KRASG12C/Y96D and could overcome resistance. Significance: In one of the first reports of clinical acquired resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors, our data suggest polyclonal RAS–MAPK reactivation as a central resistance mechanism. We also identify a novel KRAS switch-II pocket mutation that impairs binding and drives resistance to inactive-state inhibitors but is surmountable by a functionally distinct KRASG12C inhibitor. See related commentary by Pinnelli and Trusolino, p. 1874. This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1861

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Crossref · 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-0365

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  • Acquired mutations of NRAS, BRAF, RTK, and MYC were found in patients treated with sotorasib or adagrasib monotherapy.

    “Acquired mutations of NRAS, BRAF, RTK, and MYC were also found in patients treated with sotorasib or adagrasib monotherapy [49, 51, 53, 54].”

    From Differential Response and Resistance to KRAS-Targeted Therapy (2025) · cites this paper as [54]

    The Results section reports acquired NRAS and BRAF mutations in one patient after treatment with MRTX849 (adagrasib). It does not report acquired RTK or MYC mutations, or mutations acquired by a patient treated with sotorasib; its clinical resistance case concerns adagrasib alone. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Point mutations in KRAS that confer resistance include G12D/F/R/V/W, V8L, G13D, V14I, Q61H, H95D/Q/R, Y96C, and Y96D.

    “Point mutations in the KRAS gene included G12D/F/R/V/W, which prevent covalent interactions with mutant cysteine, as well as V8L, G13D, V14I, Q61H, H95D/Q/R, Y96C, and Y96D [62,97,102,103].”

    From KRAS: Biology, Inhibition, and Mechanisms of Inhibitor Resistance (2024) · cites this paper as [103]

    The Results section (page unavailable) identifies G13D and G12V as acquired KRAS mutations against which G12C-selective inhibitors are ineffective, and describes G12F only as a possible mutation that could not be confirmed. The Results and Discussion establish that Y96D confers resistance. Our copy does not substantiate the remaining listed variants or show that every G12 substitution listed prevents covalent binding. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Multiple mechanisms of acquired resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors have been identified, largely converging on reactivation of the RAS pathway or activation of parallel signaling pathways such as PI3K/mTOR.

    “Multiple mechanisms of acquired resistance have been identified, which largely converge on re-activation of the RAS pathway or alternatively activate parallel signaling pathways such as the PI3K/mTOR pathway10–14.”

    From Combined inhibition of KRASG12C and mTORC1 kinase is synergistic in non-small cell lung cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [13]

    The Results and Discussion (page not provided) describe ten acquired-resistance alterations in one patient, all converging on RAS–MAPK reactivation. The paper does not report PI3K/mTOR activation as an alternative acquired-resistance mechanism, and its single-patient findings do not establish the broader distribution of mechanisms implied by the sentence. (LLM, conf=0.90)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Mechanisms of acquired resistance in patients with lung and colorectal cancer treated with KRASG12C inhibitors include mutations in KRAS or other RTK-RAS-MAPK pathway effectors, adaptive signaling alterations, and histologic transformation to drug-resistant cell states.

    “We and others have recently described mechanisms of acquired resistance in patients with lung and colorectal cancer (CRC) treated with KRASG12C inhibitors, including mutations in KRAS or other RTK–RAS–MAPK pathway effectors, adaptive signaling alterations, and histologic transformation to drug-resistant cell states (14, 18–24).”

    From Mechanisms of Resistance to Oncogenic KRAS Inhibition in Pancreatic Cancer (2024) · cites this paper as [20]

    The Results section (“Heterogeneous acquired resistance alterations converge on RAS-MAPK reactivation”; page not available) describes acquired KRAS, NRAS, BRAF, and MAP2K1 mutations in one patient with non-small cell lung cancer treated with MRTX849. This supports the mutation component, but the paper does not report acquired resistance in a colorectal cancer patient or histologic transformation. Its Introduction discusses adaptive pathway feedback as a mechanism of primary resistance, not clinical acquired resistance. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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  • Vertical reactivation of RAS pathway elements has been observed in most samples from patients who developed resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors.

    “Vertical reactivation of the RAS pathway elements has been observed in most samples collected from patients who developed resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors.4,8,20,21”

    From Therapeutic targeting of syndecan-1 axis overcomes acquired resistance to KRAS-targeted therapy in gastrointestinal cancers (2025) · cites this paper as [20]

    The Introduction and Discussion report RAS–MAPK reactivation associated with acquired resistance, but this paper studies one patient, not most samples from patients who developed resistance. The authors also describe the resistance alterations as converging on, or predicted to converge on, pathway reactivation; they say additional patients must be studied. Page numbers are not provided in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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Authors
Tanaka, N., Lin, J. J., Li, C., Ryan, M. B., Zhang, J., Kiedrowski, L. A., Michel, A. G., Syed, M. U., Fella, K. A., Sakhi, M., Baiev, I., Juric, D., Gainor, J. F., Klempner, S. J., Lennerz, J. K., Siravegna, G., Bar-Peled, L., Hata, A. N., Heist, R. S., & Corcoran, R. B.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Guardant (United States) (US)
  • Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
  • 1Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Corresponding author
  • Hata, Aaron N.
  • Heist, Rebecca S.
  • Corcoran, Ryan B.
Venue
Cancer Discovery
Published
2021-04-06
Volume
11
Issue
8
Pages
1913-1922
ISSN
  • 2159-8274 (ISSN-L)
  • 2159-8290
OpenAlex
W3142010099
Cited by
527
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 85 · 2025: 100 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 91 · 2022: 86 · 2021: 41
FWCI
26.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cancer Discovery (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • Revolution Medicines (RM-018)
  • Stand Up To Cancer—American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Dream Team Translational Research Grant (SU2C-AACR-DT17–15)
  • NIH (R01-CA164273, 1F32CA250231–01)
  • AACR (19–20–45-BARP)
  • Damon Runyon (DRR-62–20)
  • NIH NCI (R00 CA215249)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Protein Kinase Regulation and GTPase Signaling
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Treatments and Mutations
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Melanoma and MAPK Pathways
Keywords
KRAS G12C, acquired drug resistance, switch-II pocket, adagrasib, sotorasib, non-small cell lung cancer, NRAS, BRAF, MEK1, drug-protein binding
MeSH terms
Acetonitriles, Aged, Antineoplastic Agents, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Female, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Neoplasm Metastasis, Piperazines, Pyridines, Pyrimidines, Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras), Drug Resistance, Neoplasm

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