Author of

• 16549

  +

  P1.02 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 454)

  • Event: WCLC 2016
  • Type: Poster Presenters Present
  • Track: Biology/Pathology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 12/05/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)

  • 16560

    +

    P1.02-011 - Comparison of EGFR and KRAS Mutations in Archival Tissue and Circulating Tumor DNA: The Impact of Tumor Heterogeneity (ID 4504)

    14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Karsan
    • Abstract

    Background:
    In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has gained acceptance as a potential alternative to tissue biopsies to identify targetable mutations. Individual ctDNA platforms have varying abilities to detect specific mutations. A prospective, multicenter study was conducted to determine concordance, sensitivity, and specificity of ctDNA genotyping, with archival tissue DNA (atDNA) as the reference standard.
    
    Methods:
    Patients with incurable advanced NSCLC at the BC Cancer Agency were enrolled over 14 months. Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and high-throughput multiplex amplification of a 27-gene panel (Raindance) was used for atDNA analysis. Four mL of plasma was collected in Streck (Cell Free DNA BCT) tubes for ctDNA genotyping using the Boreal Genomic OnTarget. Analysis of concordance, sensitivity, and specificity was conducted with atDNA used as the standard.
    
    Results:
    Seventy-six patients were enrolled, median age 66, 33 (44%) male, 69 (91%) metastatic disease, 47 (62%) with primary disease in-situ. Twenty-six EGFR mutations in 22 atDNA samples, and 12 mutations in 11 ctDNA samples were detected, with a concordance of 78%, sensitivity of 39%, and specificity 98%. One EGFR T790M mutation was positive by ctDNA alone. Twenty-one KRAS mutations in 21 atDNA samples were detected. Within this subgroup, 10 ctDNA samples had KRAS mutations with a concordance of 76%, sensitivity of 50%, and specificity of 80%. Fourteen KRAS mutations were detected by ctDNA only. The interval between archival tissue and ctDNA collection, and time between treatment and ctDNA collection, did not significantly impact the rate of concordance (p> 0.05).
    
    Conclusion:
    Although the sensitivity is limited, the Boreal Genomic OnTarget ctDNA analysis is specific in identifying clinically relevant EGFR mutations and has acceptable concordance rates between ctDNA and atDNA testing. Targetable EGFR and KRAS mutations were detected in ctDNA but not atDNA, which may reflect site of biopsy, tumor heterogeneity, or technical limitations of assays used. Given the high specificity and non-invasive nature of this test, positive results in EGFR mutations can be used to direct therapeutic decisions, especially accounting for clonal evolution overtime in detection of resistance mutations.
    
    

• 18272

  +

  P3.01 - Poster Session with Presenters Present (ID 469)

  • Event: WCLC 2016
  • Type: Poster Presenters Present
  • Track: Biology/Pathology
  • Presentations: 1
  • Moderators:
  • Coordinates: 12/07/2016, 14:30 - 15:45, Hall B (Poster Area)

  • 18321

    +

    P3.01-049 - ELF3 Overexpression Leads to Oncogenic Reprogramming of Protein Interactions Exposing Therapeutically Actionable Targets (ID 5807)

    14:30 - 15:45  |  Author(s): A. Karsan
    • Abstract

    Background:
    Emerging evidence has implicated ELF3 involvement in cancer signaling pathways. To determine the biological basis to pursue ELF3 as a novel therapeutic target, we investigated the role of ELF3 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Using a multi-omics approach in two independent cohorts of LUAD we (a) discover genetic mechanisms driving aberrant expression of this oncogene, (b) identify the protein-protein-interaction (PPI) partners of ELF3, and (c) determine the specific functions of ELF3 in LUAD using model systems.
    
    Methods:
    Comprehensive, multi-omic data was collected from the BC Cancer Research Centre (BCCRC), The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and several mouse models of LUAD tumourigenesis. ELF3 cellular localization was visualized by immunofluorescence. ELF3 knock-down and overexpression was achieved by lentiviral vector delivery for in vitro and in vivo assays. Physical protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks obtained from IID were overlaid onto cancer and non-malignant gene expression data from TCGA and 11 restructured datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus. PPIs were interrogated to investigate malignancy-associated ELF3 interactions. Pathway analysis was performed using pathDIP. Survival analysis was performed using the log-rank method.
    
    Results:
    ELF3 was significantly overexpressed in both cohorts, remarkably in >70% of cases (p=1.64E-21). However, mutation of known upstream regulators was not sufficient to explain the frequency of ELF3 overexpression. Instead, the ELF3 locus underwent frequent (>80%) genetic alteration including focal amplification and promoter hypomethylation, which corresponded with increased expression. ELF3 was predominantly localized to the nucleus, consistent with its transcription factor function. Analysis of PPI networks indicated highly LUAD-specific ELF3 interactions whereby loss and gain of interactions lead to reprogramming of LUAD transcriptional networks, including loss of TNFα pathway, and gain of TGFβ pathway, PI3K pathway, and translesion (DNA repair) pathway interactions. Furthermore, EGFR, KRAS, and MYC transgenic models of LUAD tumourigenesis all displayed a marked increase (6 to 8-fold) in ELF3 expression signifying its importance to LUAD of varied genetic backgrounds. In culture, ELF3 regulated proliferation, viability and anchorage-independent growth. In animal models, ELF3 knock-down cells underwent negative clonal selection, suggesting ELF3 expression is beneficial to tumour growth. Clinically, high expression of ELF3 was associated with poor survival regardless of tumour stage.
    
    Conclusion:
    Overexpression of ELF3 reprograms protein-protein-interactions in LUAD leading to the activation of cancer-specific pathways, and producing oncogenic phenotypes. Depletion of ELF3 with shRNAs reverses tumour cell growth, suggesting ELF3 is a promising therapeutic target. In addition to ELF3, interruption of cancer-specific PPIs also represents a therapeutically actionable strategy.