Uncovering the differential impact of ESR1 and PIK3CA codon variants on the clinical phenotype of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) through circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) next-generation sequencing (NGS).

Authors

null

Lorenzo Gerratana

Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Chicago, IL

Lorenzo Gerratana , Andrew A. Davis , Marko Velimirovic , Paolo D'Amico , Ami N. Shah , Katherine Clifton , Qiang Zhang , Charles Sichao Dai , Carolina Reduzzi , Whitney L Hensing , Marta Bonotto , Roberta Mazzeo , Firas Hazem Wehbe , Alessandra Franzoni , Barbara Belletti , Amir Behdad , Cynthia X. Ma , Fabio Puglisi , Aditya Bardia , Massimo Cristofanilli

Organizations

Department of Medicine-Hematology and Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine, Chicago, IL, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, Northwestern University, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Lurie Cancer Center, Chicago, IL, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Udine, Udine, Italy, Department of Medical Area, University of Udine; Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS, CRO of Aviano, Udine, Italy, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Institute of Human Genetics, Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASUFC), Udine, Italy, Unit of Molecular Oncology, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Aviano, Italy, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, Department of Medicine (DAME), University of Udine; Dipartimento di Oncologia Medica, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, Udine, Italy, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical, Boston, MA, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL

Research Funding

Other
Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Foundation, OncoSET, Ricerca Finalizzata - Italian Ministry of Health

Background: The exposure to endocrine therapy (ET) can induce the onset of ESR1 gene alterations that have an impact on not only treatment resistance but also clinical phenotype. We previously demonstrated the potential of liquid biopsy in describing the metastatic behavior of MBC. The aim of this study was to explore the different clinical phenotype across the main ESR1 and PIK3CA codon variants. Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 501 MBC patients (pts) characterized for ctDNA through NGS before treatment start at Northwestern University (Chicago, IL), Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, MA), CRO National Cancer Institute (Aviano, IT) and ASUFC Hospital (Udine, IT) between 2014 and 2020. Associations between clinical characteristics and ESR1 and PIK3CA codon variants were explored through logistic regression corrected for sites and ESR1/PIK3CA status. Survival was tested through Cox regression both for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Of the total 501 pts, 289 (58%) were diagnosed with hormone-receptor positive (HRpos) MBC, 114 (23%) with HER2-positive MBC, and 93 (19%) with triple-negative MBC. ESR1 mutations were detected in 71 pts (14%) and PIK3CA in 154 pts (31%). The most represented ESR1 gene mutations were found in codons 380 (9%), 536 (23%), 537 (34%), and 538 (34%), while alterations in codons 542 (19%), 545 (21%), and 1047 (60%) were the most common for PIK3CA. As expected, ESR1 mutations were found only in HRpos pts previously exposed to ET (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed for PIK3CA. After multivariable analysis, ESR1mutations were confirmed as highly associated with liver and bone metastases (OR 3.31, P < 0.001 and OR 5.09, P < 0.001). Moreover, an association with lung (OR 2.07, P = 0.010) was observed in this cohort. After multivariable analysis, codon 537 mutations were associated with bone involvement (OR 12.97, P = 0.014), codon 538 with liver (OR 4.73, P = 0.010), and codon 536 with soft tissue (OR 5.84, P = 0.006) and liver (OR 4.06, P = 0.048). PIK3CA mutations were associated with bone (OR 2.61, P < 0.001) and lung metastases (OR 1.62, P = 0.044). Specifically, codon 1047 mutations were the primary driver (OR 3.14, P = 0.001 and OR 1.97, P = 0.019). In HRpos MBC, baseline mutations in ESR1 codon 537 and 538 had a negative impact on OS (HR 3.73, P < 0.010 and HR 2.99, P < 0.021), while 380 and 536 had a negative impact on PFS (HR 18.98, P < 0.001 and HR 2.60, P = 0.015). No impact was observed across PIK3CA gene variants. Conclusions: This study showed the different tumor biology across ESR1 and PIK3CA gene variants. As novel selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDS) and PIK3CA inhibitors are gaining momentum as new ET options in MBC, these results highlight the future pivotal role of ctDNA NGS in refining tumor biology characterization.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Breast Cancer—Metastatic

Track

Breast Cancer

Sub Track

Biologic Correlates

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 1033)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.1033

Abstract #

1033

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures