Dataset Information

Spectrum of Mechanisms of Resistance to Crizotinib and Lorlatinib in ROS1 Fusion-Positive Lung Cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Current standard initial therapy for advanced, ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase fusion (ROS1)-positive (ROS1⁺) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is crizotinib or entrectinib. Lorlatinib, a next-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase/ROS1 inhibitor, recently demonstrated efficacy in ROS1⁺ NSCLC, including in crizotinib-pretreated patients. However, mechanisms of lorlatinib resistance in ROS1⁺ disease remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed mechanisms of resistance to crizotinib and lorlatinib.

Experimental design

Biopsies from patients with ROS1 ⁺ NSCLC progressing on crizotinib or lorlatinib were profiled by genetic sequencing.

Results

From 55 patients, 47 post-crizotinib and 32 post-lorlatinib biopsies were assessed. Among 42 post-crizotinib and 28 post-lorlatinib biopsies analyzed at distinct timepoints, ROS1 mutations were identified in 38% and 46%, respectively. ROS1 G2032R was the most commonly occurring mutation in approximately one third of cases. Additional ROS1 mutations included D2033N (2.4%) and S1986F (2.4%) post-crizotinib and L2086F (3.6%), G2032R/L2086F (3.6%), G2032R/S1986F/L2086F (3.6%), and S1986F/L2000V (3.6%) post-lorlatinib. Structural modeling predicted ROS1^L2086F causes steric interference to lorlatinib, crizotinib, and entrectinib, while it may accommodate cabozantinib. In Ba/F3 models, ROS1^L2086F, ROS1^{G2032R/L2086F}, and ROS1^{S1986F/G2032R/L2086F} were refractory to lorlatinib but sensitive to cabozantinib. A patient with disease progression on crizotinib and lorlatinib and ROS1 L2086F received cabozantinib for nearly 11 months with disease control. Among lorlatinib-resistant biopsies, we also identified MET amplification (4%), KRAS G12C (4%), KRAS amplification (4%), NRAS mutation (4%), and MAP2K1 mutation (4%).

Conclusions

ROS1 mutations mediate resistance to crizotinib and lorlatinib in more than one third of cases, underscoring the importance of developing next-generation ROS1 inhibitors with potency against these mutations, including G2032R and L2086F. Continued efforts are needed to elucidate ROS1-independent resistance mechanisms.

SUBMITTER: Lin JJ

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8127383 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring ROS proto-oncogene 1, receptor tyrosine kinase gene (ROS1) chromosomal rearrangements benefit from treatment with the ROS1 inhibitor crizotinib. Limited data exist on the spectrum of resistance mechanisms in ROS1-positive NSCLC. To delineate mechanisms of acquired resistance, we analyzed biopsy samples of tumor lesions that progressed while patients were receiving crizotinib.An activating mutation in the KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT) (p.D816G) was identified by SNaPshot sequencing in a tumor sample from a patient with ROS1-positive NSCLC identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization whose disease progressed after initial response to crizotinib. In vitro studies included evaluation of KIT mRNA expression by quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions, transduction of Ba/F3 cells and NSCLC cell lines with KIT-expressing lentiviral plasmids, immunoblotting, and cellular proliferation assays.KIT(D816G) is an activating mutation that induces autophosphorylation and cell proliferation. Expression of the mutant KIT(D816G) receptor in ROS1-positive NSCLC cell lines led to constitutively activated KIT as measured by phosphorylation of the KIT receptor. Expression of the KIT(D816G) rendered the HCC78 and CUTO2 cell lines resistant to crizotinib, and only dual inhibition of ROS1 and KIT with crizotinib and ponatinib could resensitize the cells to inhibition of proliferation. The oncogenic switch observed in ROS1-positive cell lines was not immediate and required pharmacologic inactivation of ROS1.Activation of KIT by a gain-of-function somatic mutation is a novel mechanism of resistance to crizotinib in ROS1-rearranged NSCLC. This bypass signaling pathway serves as a ROS1-independent mechanism of resistance, similarly to previously identified epidermal growth factor receptor or Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog/neuroblastoma RAS viral oncogene homolog signaling pathways, and can potentially be targeted by KIT inhibitors.

Project description:Introduction The central nervous system (CNS) is a common site of progression among patients with ROS1-rearranged lung cancer receiving crizotinib. We conducted a phase 2 study to evaluate the intracranial efficacy of lorlatinib in patients with ROS1-rearranged lung cancer who developed CNS-only progression on crizotinib. Methods Patients with metastatic ROS1-rearranged lung cancer with CNS-only progression on crizotinib received lorlatinib 100 mg daily. The primary end point was intracranial disease control rate at 12 weeks per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Secondary end points included intracranial and extracranial progression-free survival, intracranial objective response rate, and safety/tolerability. Results A total of 16 patients were enrolled between November 2016 and January 2019. Nine patients (56%) had received prior CNS radiation, with a median of 10.9 months between radiation and lorlatinib. At 12 weeks, the intracranial disease control rate was 100% and intracranial objective response rate was 87%. While on study, the complee intracranial response rate was 60%. With median follow-up of 22 months, seven patients experienced disease progression, including five patients with CNS relapse. The median intracranial and extracranial progression-free survivals were 38.8 months (95% confidence interval: 16.9–not reported) and 41.1 months (95% confidence interval: 17.6–not reported), respectively. Molecular analysis of plasma or tissue from patients with extracranial progression on lorlatinib revealed ROS1 G2032R (n = 1), ROS1 L2086F (n = 1), and CCDC6-RET fusion plus ROS1 G2032R (n = 1). The safety profile of lorlatinib was consistent with prior studies. There were 11 patients (69%) who required dose reduction, including one patient who discontinued treatment for grade 3 edema. No grade greater than or equal to 4 adverse events were observed. Conclusions Lorlatinib induced durable intracranial responses in patients with ROS1-rearranged NSCLC and prior isolated CNS progression on crizotinib.

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