Efficacy of Dabrafenib Plus Trametinib Combination in Patients with BRAF V600E-Mutant NSCLC in Real-World Setting: GFPC 01-2019

BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic NSCLC: disease overview and treatment landscape

In this review, we cover the current understanding of BRAF mutations and associated clinical characteristics in patients with metastatic NSCLC, approved and emerging treatment options, BRAF sequencing approaches, and unmet needs. The BRAFV600E mutation confers constitutive activity of the MAPK pathway, leading to enhanced growth, proliferation, and survival of tumor cells. Testing for BRAF mutations enables patients to be treated with therapies that directly target BRAFV600E and the MAPK pathway, but BRAF testing lags behind other oncogene testing in metastatic NSCLC. Additional therapies targeting BRAFV600E mutations provide options for patients with metastatic NSCLC. Emerging therapies and combinations under investigation could potentially overcome issues of resistance and target non-V600E mutations. Therefore, because targeted therapies with enhanced efficacy are on the horizon, being able to identify BRAF mutations in metastatic NSCLC may become even more important.

Outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer patients with non-V600E BRAF mutations: a series of case reports and literature review

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of cases of lung cancer. The standard first-line therapy for patients without oncogenic driver metastatic NSCLC is anti PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) with platinum-based chemotherapy. Approximately 4% of NSCLC patients harbor BRAF mutations; the V600E mutation is the most common. Non-V600 mutations is an heterogeneous population and account for approximately 50% of BRAF-mutated NSCLC. BRAF mutations are classified into 3 functional classes based on their kinase activity and their signaling mechanism. The European Medicines Agency and the United States Food and Drug Administration have approved dabrafenib, an anti-BRAF tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in combination with trametinib, an anti-MEK TKI, for the treatment of patients with BRAF V600E-mutated metastatic NSCLC. The use of targeted therapies in NSCLC with BRAF non-V600E mutations remains controversial. There is a lack of guidelines regarding therapeutic options in non-V600E BRAF-mutated NSCLC. Herein, we presented 3 cases of NSCLC with BRAF non-V600E mutations and reviewed the current state of therapies for this particular population of lung cancer.

Real-World Treatment Patterns and Effectiveness of Targeted and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Systemic Therapy in BRAF Mutation-Positive NSCLC

Introduction

BRAF mutations (present in 2%-3% of NSCLC) are a known oncogenic driver and emerging therapeutic target. There is a scarcity of real-world data describing the clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and effectiveness of targeted BRAF-inhibiting and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based systemic therapies, yet this is required for appropriate treatment decisions that optimize patient outcome.

Methods

Demographic, clinical, treatment, and outcome data of patients with BRAF mutation-positive NSCLC diagnosed between 2018 and 2022 were identified from the Glans-Look Lung Cancer Research database and included in this analysis.

Results

A total of 53 BRAF mutation-positive patients were identified (V600E, n = 35; non-V600E, n = 18). Furthermore, 46 patients (87%) were diagnosed with metastatic disease, of whom 61% were treated with systemic anticancer therapy, which significantly improved overall survival (34.1 versus 2.2 mo, p = 0.01). ICI-based regimens were found to have effectiveness in the first-line setting for both V600E and non-V600E cohorts (objective response rate: 38%-43%; real-world calculations of median progression-free survival: 10.5-10.8 mo, respectively). Dual-targeted BRAF/MEK inhibition was also found to have effectiveness in the first-line setting for V600E patients (objective response rate: 33%, real-world calculations of median progression-free survival: 15.2 mo).

Conclusions

This study of real-world patients with BRAF mutations confirms the importance of effective systemic therapies. Both dual-targeted BRAF/MEK inhibition and ICI-based regimens have evidence of benefit in this population revealing that real-world populations can experience similar clinical response and outcome to clinical trial cohorts on these treatment regimens. Future studies to clarify the role of co-mutations on response to both dual-targeted BRAF/MEK inhibition and ICI-based regimens may be important to treatment selection and optimization of patient outcome.

Developing SHP2-based combination therapy for KRAS-amplified cancer

Gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (GEAs) harbor recurrent amplification of KRAS, leading to marked overexpression of WT KRAS protein. We previously demonstrated that SHP2 phosphatase, which acts to promote KRAS and downstream MAPK pathway activation, is a target in these tumors when combined with MEK inhibition. We hypothesized that SHP2 inhibitors may serve as a foundation for developing novel combination inhibitor strategies for therapy of KRAS-amplified GEA, including with targets outside the MAPK pathway. Here, we explore potential targets to effectively augment the efficacy of SHP2 inhibition, starting with genome-wide CRISPR screens in KRAS-amplified GEA cell lines with and without SHP2 inhibition. We identify candidate targets within the MAPK pathway and among upstream RTKs that may enhance SHP2 efficacy in KRAS-amplified GEA. Additional in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the potent cytotoxicity of pan-ERBB kinase inhibitions in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, beyond targets within the MAPK pathway, we demonstrate that inhibition of CDK4/6 combines potently with SHP2 inhibition in KRAS-amplified GEA, with greater efficacy of this combination in KRAS-amplified, compared with KRAS-mutant, tumors. These results suggest therapeutic combinations for clinical study in KRAS-amplified GEAs.

Non-small-cell lung cancer: how to manage BRAF-mutated disease

BRAF mutations are reported in about 3-5% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), almost exclusively in adenocarcinoma histology, and are classified into three different classes. The segmentation of BRAF mutations into V600 (class 1) and non-V600 (classes 2 and 3) relies on their biological characteristics and is of interest for predicting the therapeutic benefit of targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Given the relative rarity of this molecular subset of disease, evidence supporting treatment choices is limited. This review aims to offer a comprehensive update about available therapeutic options for patients with NSCLC harbouring BRAF mutations to guide the physician in the choice of treatment strategies. We collected the most relevant available data, from single-arm phase II studies and retrospective analyses conducted in advanced NSCLC, regarding the efficacy of BRAF and MEK inhibitors in both V600 and non-V600 BRAF mutations. We included case reports and smaller experiences that could provide information on specific alterations. With respect to immunotherapy, we reviewed retrospective evidence on immune-checkpoint inhibitors in this molecular subset, whereas data about chemo-immunotherapy in this molecular subgroup are lacking. Moreover, we included the available, though limited, retrospective evidence of immunotherapy as consolidation after chemo-radiation for unresectable stage III BRAF-mutant NSCLC, and an overview of ongoing clinical trials in the peri-operative setting that could open new perspectives in the future.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Targeted Therapy: Drugs and Mechanisms of Drug Resistance

The advent of precision medicine has brought light to the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), expanding the options for patients with advanced NSCLC by targeting therapy through genetic and epigenetic cues. Tumor driver genes in NSCLC patients have been uncovered one by one, including epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), mesenchymal lymphoma kinase (ALK), and receptor tyrosine kinase ROS proto-oncogene 1 (ROS1) mutants. Antibodies and inhibitors that target the critical gene-mediated signaling pathways that regulate tumor growth and development are anticipated to increase patient survival and quality of life. Targeted drugs continue to emerge, with as many as two dozen approved by the FDA, and chemotherapy and targeted therapy have significantly improved patient prognosis. However, resistance due to cancer drivers' genetic alterations has given rise to significant challenges in treating patients with metastatic NSCLC. Here, we summarized the main targeted therapeutic sites of NSCLC drugs and discussed their resistance mechanisms, aiming to provide new ideas for follow-up research and clues for the improvement of targeted drugs.

Clinical Characteristics, Co-Mutations, and Treatment Outcomes in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Patients With the BRAF-V600E Mutation

Background

Limited treatment outcome data is available for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with BRAF V600E mutations. In this multicenter study, we describe therapeutic options and survival outcomes for patients with mutated BRAF V600E.

Method

This was a retrospective study in which BRAF V600E-mutated advanced NSCLC patients were retrospectively recruited between January 2015 and December 2021 and had their clinical characteristics, co-mutations, and treatment efficacy assessed.

Results

Fifty-three patients with BRAF V600E-mutant advanced NSCLC were included in the study, of which 64.2% were non-smokers, and the BRAF V600E mutation was more prevalent in men (52.8%). In addition, 96.2% of the patients had adenocarcinoma, and most (96.2%) received first-line therapy (23.5% anti-BRAF), with a progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of 10.0 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–36.0 months] and 24.0 months [95% CI: 3.0–53.0 months], respectively. Twenty-three patients (43.4%) received second-line treatment (39.1% anti-BRAF), and PFS and OS were 5.0 [95% CI: 1.0–21.0 months] and 13.0 months [95% CI: 1.5–26.0 months], respectively. BRAF and MEK-targeted therapy (dabrafenib plus trametinib) produced longer PFS compared with that of chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab as a first-line (NA vs. 4.0 months, P = 0.025) or second-line therapy (6.0 vs. 4.6 months, P = 0.017). NSCLC patients harboring driver oncogene mutations such as BRAF V600E, EGFR, or ALK should be treated using targeted therapies. Concurrent TP53 mutations were the most common, affecting 11.3% (n = 6) of the patients, followed by EGFR 19 Del (n = 5). Patients with concurrent mutations had shorter PFS (9.0 vs. 10.0 months, P = 0.875) and OS (14.0 vs. 15.0 months, P = 0.555) than those without these mutations.

Conclusion

These results suggest that combined BRAF- and MEK-targeted therapy is effective in BRAF V600E-mutated advanced NSCLC patients. Dabrafenib and trametinib re-challenge is also an option for patients with BRAF V600E-mutated NSCLC.

Treatment outcomes and prognosis of patients with primary and acquired BRAF-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter retrospective study

The incidence of primary and acquired BRAF mutations is low in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with limited demographic and treatment outcome data available for this patient population. We evaluated lung cancer samples with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) information extracted from 12,051 cases (cohort A) of lung cancer from OncoPanscan^TM -based sequencing of tissue (Genetron Health) and conducted retrospective multicenter data analysis using the database of Zhejiang Cancer Hospital and four other centers (cohort B, including 73 primary BRAF mutation and 14 acquired BRAF mutation cases) to compare treatment outcomes of patient groups with primary and acquired BRAF mutations. In cohort A, after propensity score analysis, 165 samples of NSCLC with BRAF mutations were screened along with 165 paired non-BRAF mutation samples. We observed no significant differences in the proportion of samples with ≥1% PD-L1 between BRAF and non-BRAF mutant groups. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) period in 13 patients with primary BRAF mutations receiving BRAF tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BRAF-TKIs) was 7.0 months. The group with primary BRAF mutations receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combination chemotherapy had better PFS than those administered ICI monotherapy (14.77 months vs 5.0 months, P=0.025) and similar results were obtained for OS (unreached vs 20.3 months, P=0.013). For acquired BRAF mutations, mPFS of BRAF-TKI, ICI-based and chemotherapy-based regimens were 3.8, 1.5 and 1.9 months, respectively. Therefore, for patients with the primary BRAF V600E mutation, targeted therapy or immunochemotherapy could serve as effective treatment choices while for those with acquired BRAF V600E, targeted drug therapy may remain the preferred solution in China. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

[Current Advance in Targeted Treatment and Immunotherapy for BRAF-mutant Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer]

随着精准医学的发展，靶向驱动基因的治疗显著改善了晚期非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）患者的预后和生活质量。其中鼠类肉瘤病毒癌基因同源物B1（v-raf murine sar-coma viral oncogene homolog B1, BRAF）基因突变的NSCLC较为罕见，传统治疗遵循无驱动基因突变NSCLC的治疗方案，远远没有满足临床需求。近年来，针对BRAF V600E突变NSCLC的靶向治疗疗效显著，其他BRAF突变亚型靶向治疗仍在探索阶段。免疫疗法在BRAF V600E和非V600E亚型的NSCLC中也显示出积极的抗肿瘤活性。本文就BRAF阳性NSCLC患者的靶向和免疫治疗研究进展作一综述。

Non-small cell lung cancer: Emerging molecular targeted and immunotherapeutic agents

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) represents the most common and fatal type of primary lung malignancies. NSCLC is often diagnosed at later stages and requires systemic therapies. Despite recent advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted molecular therapies the outcomes of NSCLC remain disproportionately poor. Immunotherapy is a rapidly developing area in NSCLC management and presents opportunities for potential improvements in clinical outcomes. Indeed, different immunotherapeutics have been approved for clinical use in various settings for NSCLC. Their promise is especially poignant in light of improved survival and quality of life outcomes. Herein, we comprehensively review emerging NSCLC therapeutics. We discuss the limitations of such strategies and summarize the present status of various immunotherapeutic agents in key patient populations. We also examine the data from ongoing studies in immunotherapy and consider future areas of study, including novel inhibition targets, therapeutic vaccination, tumor genome modification, and improvements to drug delivery systems.

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Version 2.2021

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) address all aspects of management for NSCLC. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines regarding targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and their respective biomarkers.