B. Colinet MD

Therapy-orienting testing of EGFR inhibitor-resistant non-small cell lung cancer

SUMMARY

Somatic sensitising mutations in the tyrosine kinase domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are detected in approximately 10% of patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) are the first-line treatment option for patients with an actionable EGFR mutation. Despite initial responses, the majority of patients progress within one to two years after EGFR-TKIs treatment initiation.

The most common mechanism of resistance is the development of an additional EGFR-T790M mutation in exon 20, found in 50–60% of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients who were rebiopsied on EGFR-TKI treatment. Phase II and III trials with osimertinib, a third-generation EGFR-TKI, demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 60–70% and median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 10–11 months in EGFR-T790M-positive tumours.

A tissue biopsy of a progressing lesion for confirmation of histology and molecular characterisation is a critical consideration. However, a repeat tissue biopsy is not possible for every patient. Therefore, a liquid biopsy can be considered for EGFR-T790M mutation testing. Indeed, clinical trials testing osimertinib have shown similar clinical outcomes (ORR and mPFS on osimertinib) in patients with T790M-positive plasma versus T790M-positive tumour tissue.

Osimertinib clearly expands relapse treatment options for advanced stage EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Testing for EGFR-T790M at acquired resistance should become a standard component of patient care in EGFR-mutant tumours. In this manuscript, we propose and discuss two possible clinical diagnostic algorithms that could be used for the therapy-orienting testing of EGFR-TKI-resistant NSCLC patients. Tissue and liquid biopsies involve challenges in terms of specific clinical role, safety, logistics, and cost.

(BELG J MED ONCOL 2017;11(5):226–233)

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