The Association of EGFR Mutations with Stage at Diagnosis in Lung Adenocarcinomas

The Effect of Fuzheng Yiai Decoction on the Transdifferentiation of Lung Adenocarcinoma in EGFR-TKI-Resistant Mice

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Fuzheng Yiai Decoction (FZYA) on epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) drug resistance in lung adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC). The expression of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF1) and p63 in tumor cells was observed by immunofluorescence staining. Meanwhile, 25 nude mice successfully inoculated with the human lung ASC cell line NCI-H596 were randomly divided into five groups, namely, the model, gefitinib, low-, medium-, and high-dose FZYA with gefitinib groups. After four weeks of daily intragastric administration of the various treatments, the tumor weight and volume inhibition rates were calculated. The positive expression rate and protein expression of TTF1 and p63 in mouse tumor tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot assays. The results showed that the adenocarcinoma part and the squamous cell carcinoma part of the lung tissue were not either one or the other, and each had unique biological behavior patterns. In terms of the tumor volume and weight, gefitinib treatment along with FZYA reduced the acquired resistance of EGFR-TKIs in lung ASC, and its inhibitory effect was superior to EGFR-TKI (gefitinib) treatment alone. Moreover, it was discovered that FZYA inhibited the pedigree transformation among cancer subtypes due to EGFR-TKI treatment. In conclusion, the application of FZYA inhibited the pedigree transformation among lung cancer subtypes, thus increasing the tumor inhibitory effect and decreasing the EGFR-TKI drug resistance of tumor cells.

FDA Approval Summary: Osimertinib for adjuvant treatment of surgically resected non-small cell lung cancer, a collaborative Project Orbis review

On December 18, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved osimertinib as adjuvant therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations, as detected by an FDA-approved test. The approval was based on the ADAURA study in which 682 patients with NSCLC were randomized to receive osimertinib (n=339) or placebo (n=343). Disease free survival (DFS) in the overall population (Stage IB-IIIA) was improved for patients who received osimertinib, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.20; 95% CI: 0.15, 0.27; p<0.0001. Median DFS was not reached for the osimertinib arm compared to 27.5 months (95% CI: 22.0, 35.0) for patients receiving placebo. Overall survival (OS) data was not mature at the time of the approval. This application was reviewed under FDA's Project Orbis, in collaboration with Australia Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Brazil ANVISA, Health Canada, Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Switzerland Swissmedic, and the United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This is the first targeted therapy adjuvant approval for NSCLC and has practice changing implications.

Mutational profile of Brazilian lung adenocarcinoma unveils association of EGFR mutations with high Asian ancestry and independent prognostic role of KRAS mutations

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer worldwide. The mutational frequency of EGFR and KRAS genes in lung adenocarcinoma varies worldwide per ethnicity and smoking. The impact of EGFR and KRAS mutations in Brazilian lung cancer remains poorly explored. Thus, we investigated the frequency of EGFR and KRAS mutations in a large Brazilian series of lung adenocarcinoma together with patients’ genetic ancestry, clinicopathological and sociodemographic characteristics. The mutational frequency of EGFR was 22.7% and KRAS was 20.4%. The average ancestry proportions were 73.1% for EUR, 13.1% for AFR, 6.5% for AME and 7.3% for ASN. EGFR mutations were independently associated with never-smokers, high-Asian ancestry, and better performance status. KRAS mutations were independently associated with tobacco exposure and non-Asian ancestry. EGFR-exon 20 mutations were associated with worse outcome. The Cox regression model indicated a worse outcome for patients whose were older at diagnosis (>61 y), solid histological subtype, loss of weight (>10%), worse performance status (≥2), and presence of KRAS mutations and EGFR mutational status in TKi non-treated patients. In conclusion, we assessed the clinicopathological and ethnic impact of EGFR and KRAS mutations in the largest series reported of Brazilian lung adenocarcinomas. These findings can support future clinical strategies for Brazilian lung cancer patients.

Mutation Frequencies in Endometrial Cancer Patients of Different Ethnicities and Tumor Grades: An Analytical Study

Background:

Endometrial carcinoma is a predominant health problem for women worldwide. However, there is a lack of data on genetic mutation frequencies in endometrial cancer patients of different ethnicities and tumor grades.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to provide data regarding mutation frequencies in endometrial cancer patients of different ethnic groups and tumor grades by analyzing large-scale cancer genomic datasets of a database.

Materials and Methods:

The following databases of cBioPortal were explored for possible mutation frequency variations in endometrial cancer patients: the Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (TCGA, PanCancer Atlas) database for ethnicity-based studies; the Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (TCGA, Nature 2013) database for tumor grade-based study; and GDC Data Portal database for calculating survival rates using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results:

PTEN mutation frequency was almost identical in all ethnic groups studied (White, Black/African American, Asian, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Asian Native). PIK3CA and ARID1A mutation frequencies were higher in White and Asian patients compared with other ethnicities; TP53 and FAT1 mutation frequencies were higher in Black/African Americans; and CTNNB1 and RYR2 mutation frequencies were higher Native Hawaiians or Asian Natives. TTN mutation frequency was lower in Asian patients. With regards to mutation frequencies at different tumor stages, in all genes, >50% of the mutations occurred during the first stage, except in TP53 and POLQ. In terms of prognosis in endometrial cancer considering the 10 most frequently mutated genes, PIK3CA and ARID1A mutations were correlated with good prognosis, whereas TP53 and PIK3R1 mutations were correlated with poor prognosis; mutations in all other genes did not show significant differences.

Conclusion:

This study revealed a new mutation frequency profile for different ethnicities and tumor grades in endometrial cancer patients. However, because this is a retrospective study, future prospective studies should be conducted including large sample sizes and more controlled measurements.

Analyzing EGFR mutations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important gene in the development of lung adenocarcinoma. However, there is controversy regarding the association between EGFR mutations and survival time of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. In the present study, tissue specimens and clinical data were collected from 219 patients with lung adenocarcinoma who had not undergone prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy. EGFR mutations were detected using a fluorescence polymerase chain reaction method, and the association between EGFR mutations and clinicopathological characteristics was analyzed. Overall survival (OS) curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method and the influence of clinicopathological characteristics on OS was analyzed using the Cox regression model. The EGFR mutation rate was 50.7%, and the most common mutations were the L858R substitution mutation in exon 21 (L858R; 54.9%) and the deletion mutation in exon 19 (19-Del; 36%). The presence of EGFR mutations varied significantly with sex, smoking history, T stage, vascular invasion and adenocarcinoma subtypes (P<0.05). The survival time was significantly longer for female, young (<60 years-old), non-smokers or patients exhibiting EGFR mutations (G719X, 19-Del, L858R and L861Q). The survival time was also significantly longer for patients with a 19-Del mutation, early stage tumors, tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeted therapy-treated patients, for those not exhibiting nerve or vascular invasion, and for those without disease recurrence (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor pathological Tumor-Node-Metastasis (pTNM) stage, nerve invasion, vascular invasion, EGFR mutation and the 19-Del mutation were independent predictors (P<0.05). Therefore, tumor pTNM stage, nerve invasion, vascular invasion and EGFR mutation status, particularly that of 19-Del, were independent prognostic factors for patients with lung adenocarcinoma.