Acquired resistance to KRAS(G12C) inhibition in cancer Journal Article


Authors: Awad, M. M.; Liu, S.; Rybkin, I. I.; Arbour, K. C.; Dilly, J.; Zhu, V. W.; Johnson, M. L.; Heist, R. S.; Patil, T.; Riely, G. J.; Jacobson, J. O.; Yang, X.; Persky, N. S.; Root, D. E.; Lowder, K. E.; Feng, H.; Zhang, S. S.; Haigis, K. M.; Hung, Y. P.; Sholl, L. M.; Wolpin, B. M.; Wiese, J.; Christiansen, J.; Lee, J.; Schrock, A. B.; Lim, L. P.; Garg, K.; Li, M.; Engstrom, L. D.; Waters, L.; Lawson, J. D.; Olson, P.; Lito, P.; Ou, S. H. I.; Christensen, J. G.; Jänne, P. A.; Aguirre, A. J.
Article Title: Acquired resistance to KRAS(G12C) inhibition in cancer
Abstract: BACKGROUND Clinical trials of the KRAS inhibitors adagrasib and sotorasib have shown promising activity in cancers harboring KRAS glycine-to-cysteine amino acid substitutions at codon 12 (KRASG12C). The mechanisms of acquired resistance to these therapies are currently unknown. METHODS Among patients with KRASG12C-mutant cancers treated with adagrasib monotherapy, we performed genomic and histologic analyses that compared pretreatment samples with those obtained after the development of resistance. Cell-based experiments were conducted to study mutations that confer resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors. RESULTS A total of 38 patients were included in this study: 27 with non–small-cell lung cancer, 10 with colorectal cancer, and 1 with appendiceal cancer. Putative mechanisms of resistance to adagrasib were detected in 17 patients (45% of the cohort), of whom 7 (18% of the cohort) had multiple coincident mechanisms. Acquired KRAS alterations included G12D/R/V/W, G13D, Q61H, R68S, H95D/Q/R, Y96C, and high-level amplification of the KRASG12C allele. Acquired bypass mechanisms of resistance included MET amplification; activating mutations in NRAS, BRAF, MAP2K1, and RET; oncogenic fusions involving ALK, RET, BRAF, RAF1, and FGFR3; and loss-of-function mutations in NF1 and PTEN. In two of nine patients with lung adenocarcinoma for whom paired tissue-biopsy samples were available, histologic transformation to squamous-cell carcinoma was observed without identification of any other resistance mechanisms. Using an in vitro deep mutational scanning screen, we systematically defined the landscape of KRAS mutations that confer resistance to KRASG12C inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS Diverse genomic and histologic mechanisms impart resistance to covalent KRASG12C inhibitors, and new therapeutic strategies are required to delay and overcome this drug resistance in patients with cancer. Copyright © 2021 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Journal Title: New England Journal of Medicine
Volume: 384
Issue: 25
ISSN: 0028-4793
Publisher: Massachusetts Medical Society  
Date Published: 2021-06-24
Start Page: 2382
End Page: 2393
Language: English
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2105281
PUBMED: 34161704
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC8864540
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 2 August 2021 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Piro Lito
    58 Lito
  2. Gregory J Riely
    599 Riely
  3. Kathryn Cecilia Arbour
    88 Arbour