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J.L. Perez-Gracia



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    MO05 - Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers II (ID 95)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
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      MO05.09 - Activation of the classical complement pathway: a novel biomarker for the early diagnosis and prognosis of lung cancer (ID 964)

      17:05 - 17:10  |  Author(s): J.L. Perez-Gracia

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      Numerous diagnostic and prognostic molecular markers have been proposed for lung cancer. However, genetic heterogeneity has limited the success of these initiatives. This limitation may be overcome by the use of biomarkers related to the host response to cancer. In this study we tested the capacity of lung cancer cells to activate the complement system and evaluated the diagnostic performance of complement-activation fragments. We demonstrate for the first time that lung cancer cells efficiently activate the classical complement pathway and that fragments of complement activation are of value for detection and prognosis of lung cancer at a very early stage.

      Methods
      We first assessed complement activation in bronchial epithelial and lung cancer cell lines. C4d, a degradation product of complement activation, was determined in 90 primary lung tumors; in bronchoalveolar lavage supernatants from 50 patients with lung cancer and 22 non-malignant respiratory diseases; and in plasma samples from different cohorts, including: advanced (n=133) and early (n=84) non-small cell lung cancer patients, subjects with inflammatory lung diseases (n=133) and asymptomatic individuals enrolled in a lung cancer CT-screening program (n=190; 32 of them with lung cancer).

      Results
      Lung cancer cells treated with normal human serum activated complement and deposited C3 more efficiently than non-malignant bronchial epithelial cells. Incubation of cells with different buffer conditions, complement depleted sera and complement inhibitors showed that lung cancer cells bind C1q and activate complement through the classical complement pathway. In a set of lung cancer cell lines, a significant correlation was found between C1q binding and C4 or C3 deposition. The presence of phosphatidylserine inhibited C1q binding and diminished complement activation. Based on these results, C4d, a classical pathway-derived split product, was evaluated as a possible diagnostic or prognostic biomarker in lung cancer. Many lung primary tumors (adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas) deposited C4d. More importantly, survival was decreased in patients with high C4d deposition in their tumors (HR=3.06; 95% CI=1.18-7.91). Moreover, C4d levels were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from lung cancer patients as compared to patients with non-malignant respiratory diseases (0.61 ± 0.87 vs. 0.16 ± 0.11 µg/ml, respectively; P<0.001). C4d levels in plasma samples from lung cancer patients at both advanced (III and IV) and early (I and II) stages were also increased compared with control subjects (4.13 ± 2.02 vs. 1.86 ± 0.95 µg/ml, P<0.001; and 3.18 ± 3.20 vs. 1.13 ± 0.69 µg/ml, P<0.001, respectively). In addition, C4d plasma levels were associated with shorter survival in patients at advanced (HR=1.59; 95% CI=0.97-2.60) and early stages (HR=5.57; 95% CI=1.60-19.39). Plasma C4d levels were dramatically reduced after surgical removal of lung tumors. Finally, plasma C4d levels were associated with increased lung cancer risk in asymptomatic individuals: OR=4.38; 95% CI=1.61-11.93.

      Conclusion
      Lung tumors activate the classical complement pathway and generate C4d, a stable complement split product. Moreover, C4d is increased in biological samples from lung cancer patients, is associated with poor prognosis, and may be of clinical value for the early detection of lung cancer.

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    MO21 - Prognostic and Predictive Biomarkers V - EGFR (ID 98)

    • Event: WCLC 2013
    • Type: Mini Oral Abstract Session
    • Track: Medical Oncology
    • Presentations: 1
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      MO21.05 - Integrated genomic analysis by whole exome and transcriptome sequencing of tumor samples from EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with acquired resistance to erlotinib. (ID 1426)

      10:50 - 10:55  |  Author(s): J.L. Perez-Gracia

      • Abstract
      • Presentation
      • Slides

      Background
      NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations initially respond to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) but ultimately relapse. Sub-genomic molecular studies indicate that the EGFR T790M mutation and the activation of MET, PI3K, AXL, HER2 and MAPK can lead to acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs. To date, no integrated comprehensive genomic investigation of EGFR TKI resistance has been reported.

      Methods
      FFPE biopsies of erlotinib-sensitive and erlotinib-resistant tumors were obtained from 13 EGFR mutant NSCLC patients. The samples were analyzed by whole exome sequencing and whole transcriptome sequencing utilizing the Illumina HiSeq2500 platform. In addition, targeted gene sequencing was performed with the Illumina TruSeq Amplicon-Cancer Panel and run on the MiSeq system.

      Results
      Erlotinib resistant NSCLC specimens harbored known resistance drivers, including EGFR T790M mutations (9/13; 69%), MET amplification (3/13; 23%), HER2 amplification (3/13; 23%), and AXL upregulation (3/13; 23%). Differential expression analysis between resistant and pre-treatment states revealed enrichment in the pre-treatment tumors of immune signaling pathways, and in the resistant tumors upregulation of ERBB2, mTOR, PI3 kinase and ribosomal signaling pathways. PI3K/AKT pathway upregulation also occurred through somatic mutations in AKT and LKB1 in the resistant tumors. Copy number analysis demonstrated both large scale and focal amplifications and deletions in the resistant tumors, including the focal loss of EGFR and gain of c-Myc and NKX2-1. There was strong correlation between the copy number changes observed and the expression mRNA levels of the involved cancer-associated genes. Of note, each resistant tumor exhibited greater copy number similarity to the corresponding matched pre-treatment sample compared to other tumors within the resistance cohort.

      Conclusion
      We conducted the first ever comprehensive integrated genomic analysis of EGFR TKI resistant NSCLC patients, and identified both known and potentially novel drivers of EGFR TKI resistance. This study demonstrated the feasibility and utility of comprehensive genomic analysis in the clinical management of NSCLC receiving targeted therapy. Together, our data provide unprecedented insight into the molecular pathogenesis of escape from EGFR oncogene inhibition in NSCLC. We are now conducting a prospective observational study in additional NSCLC patients on targeted therapy.

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