PURPOSE Promising single-agent activity from sotorasib and adagrasib in KRASG12C-mutant tumors has provided clinical evidence of effective KRAS signaling inhibition. However, comprehensive analysis of KRAS-variant prevalence, genomic alterations, and the relationship between KRAS and immuno-oncology biomarkers is lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective analysis of deidentified records from 79,004 patients with various cancers who underwent next-generation sequencing was performed. Fisher's exact test evaluated the association between cancer subtypes and KRAS variants. Logistic regression assessed KRASG12C comutations with other oncogenes and the association between KRAS variants and immuno-oncology biomarkers. RESULTS Of the 79,004 samples assessed, 13,758 (17.4%) harbored KRAS mutations, with 1,632 (11.9%) harboring KRASG12C and 12,126 (88.1%) harboring other KRAS variants (KRASnon-G12C). Compared with KRASnon-G12C across all tumor subtypes, KRASG12C was more prevalent in females (56% v 51%, false discovery rate-adjusted P value [FDR-P] = .0006), current or prior smokers (85% v 56%, FDR-P < .0001), and patients age > 60 years (73% v 63%, FDR-P ≤ .0001). The most frequent KRAS variants across all subtypes were G12D (29.5%), G12V (23.0%), G12C (11.9%), G13D (6.5%), and G12R (6.2%). KRASG12C was most prevalent in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (9%), appendiceal (3.9%), colorectal (3.2%), tumor of unknown origin (1.6%), small bowel (1.43%), and pancreatic (1.3%) cancers. Compared with KRASnon-G12C-mutated, KRASG12C-mutated tumors were significantly associated with tumor mutational burden-high status (17.9% v 8.4%, odds ratio [OR] = 2.38; FDR-P < .0001). KRASG12C-mutated tumors exhibited a distinct comutation profile from KRASnon-G12C-mutated tumors, including higher comutations of STK11 (20.59% v 5.95%, OR = 4.10; FDR-P < .01) and KEAP1 (15.38% v 4.61%, OR = 3.76; FDR-P < .01). CONCLUSION This study presents the first large-scale, pan-cancer genomic characterization of KRASG12C. The KRASG12C mutation was more prevalent in females and older patients and appeared to be associated with smoking status. KRASG12C tumors exhibited a distinct comutation profile and were associated with tumor mutational burden-high status.
PURPOSE Low concordance between plasma-based and tissue-based tests for determining the RAS mutational status have been reported in some but not all patients with limited-extent metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). In this study, we investigated the relationship between metastatic site and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) detection using ctDNA genotyping, an alternative to tissue genotyping for precision oncology. MATERIALS AND METHODS We investigated the relationship between metastatic site and ctDNA detection using Guardant360, a next-generation sequencing ctDNA assay, in mCRC patients with single-organ metastasis in the SCRUM-Japan GOZILA study (UMIN000029315). RESULTS Of 1,187 patients with mCRC enrolled in GOZILA, 138 were eligible (49 with liver-only, 15 with lymph node-only, 27 with peritoneum-only, and 47 with lung-only metastases). The concordance of RAS/BRAF status between Guaradant360 and tissue in vitro diagnostic tests was 95.9% in patients with liver-only, 80.0% in lymph node-only, 56.0% in peritoneum-only, and 65.9% in lung-only metastases. ctDNA fraction, as measured by the median maximum variant allelic fraction (max VAF), and median number of detected variants were 23.1% and five in liver-only, 6.0% and five in lymph node-only, 0.4% and three in peritoneum-only, and 0.4% and three in lung-only metastases, respectively (all P < .001, Kruskal-Wallis test). Few patients with liver-only (2.0%) and lymph node-only metastasis (13.3%) had a max VAF < 0.2%, which is required to ensure a detection limit of 95%, but max VAF was more frequently < 0.2% in patients with lung-only (27.7%) or peritoneum-only metastasis (29.6%). CONCLUSION Patients with lung-only and peritoneum-only metastatic disease have significantly lower levels of ctDNA, suggesting decreased clinical sensitivity for subclonal variants. This observation suggests that such patients may benefit from concurrent tissue and plasma testing to provide optimal genotyping for subsequent therapy selection.
To date, this is the first report utilizing the ratio of tumor markers CA19-9/CEA as a predictive rather than just prognostic tool to identify BRAF-V600E MSS and MSI-High CRC patients.
It is unclear whether somatic mutation rates are elevated in Lynch Syndrome (LS), which is the most common cause of hereditary colorectal cancer. Here, the authors use whole-genome sequencing and organoid cultures to show that normal tissues in LS patients are genomically stable, while ancestor cells of neoplastic tissues undergo multiple cycles of clonal evolution.
Patients with non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) harbouring oncogenic EGFR or ALK alterations can benefit from therapies targeting these alterations, although acquired resistance to these agents is common. Third-generation inhibitors have extended the response durations of many patients with NSCLCs harbouring these alterations, albeit with differing patterns of resistance to those associated with earlier-generation agents. Here, the authors describe the mechanisms of acquired resistance to third-generation EGFR and ALK inhibitors and provide insights into future research directions in this area.
In this Perspective, Nathan Cherny appraises the FDA approvals of therapeutic agents granted for use in adult patients with solid tumours during the 5 years 2017–2021 against the aspirations of the Cancer Moonshot, in terms of sheer number of approvals, the strength of the supporting evidence and the magnitude of clinical benefit. He also outlines areas where improvements are needed to more confidently ensure that the clinical benefits of approved treatments justify the associated risks.
It is without question that the Internet has democratized access to medical information, with estimates that 70% of the American population use it as a resource, particularly for cancer-related information. Such unfettered access to information has led to an increase in health misinformation. Fortunately, the data indicate that health care professionals remain among the most trusted information resources. Therefore, understanding how the Internet has changed engagement with health information and facilitated the spread of misinformation is an important task and challenge for cancer clinicians. In this review, we perform a meta-synthesis of qualitative data and point toward empirical evidence that characterizes misinformation in medicine, specifically in oncology. We present this as a call to action for all clinicians to become more active in ongoing efforts to combat misinformation in oncology.