Mutations in TP53, PIK3CA, PTEN and other genes in EGFR mutated lung cancers: Correlation with clinical outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The degree and duration of response to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors in EGFR mutated lung cancer are heterogeneous. We hypothesized that the concurrent genomic landscape of these tumors, which is currently unknown in view of the prevailing single gene assay diagnostic paradigm in clinical practice, could play a role in clinical outcomes and/or mechanisms of resistance. METHODS: We retrospectively probed our institutional lung cancer database for tumors with EGFR kinase domain mutations that were also evaluated by more comprehensive molecular profiling, and evaluated tumor response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). RESULTS: Out of 171 EGFR mutated tumor-patient cases, 20 were sequenced using at least a limited comprehensive genomic profiling platform. 50% harbored concurrent TP53 mutation, 10% PIK3CA mutation, 5% PTEN mutation, among others. The response rate to EGFR TKIs, the median progression-free survival (PFS) to TKIs, the percentage of EGFR-T790M TKI resistance and survival had higher trends in EGFR mutant/TP53 wild-type cases when compared to EGFR mutant/TP53 mutant tumors (all p >0.05 without statistical significance); with a significantly longer median PFS in EGFR-exon 19 deletion mutant/TP53 wild-type cancers treated with 1st generation EGFR TKIs (p=0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent mutations, specifically TP53, are common in EGFR mutated lung cancer and may alter clinical outcomes. Additional cohorts will be needed to determine if comprehensive molecular profiling adds clinically relevant information to single gene assay identification in oncogene-driven lung cancers.

Use of Biosynthetic Controls as Performance Standards for Next-Generation Sequencing Assays of Somatic Tumors: A Multilaboratory Study.

BACKGROUND: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) assays are highly complex tests that can vary substantially in both their design and intended application. Despite their innumerous advantages, NGS assays present some unique challenges associated with the preanalytical process, library preparation, data analysis, and reporting. According to a number of professional laboratory organization, control materials should be included both during the analytical validation phase and in routine clinical use to guarantee highly accurate results. The SeraseqTM Solid Tumor Mutation Mix AF10 and AF20 control materials consist of 26 biosynthetic DNA constructs in a genomic DNA background, each containing a specific variant or mutation of interest and an internal quality marker at 2 distinct allelic frequencies of 10% and 20%, respectively. The goal of this interlaboratory study was to evaluate the Seraseq AF10 and AF20 control materials by verifying their performance as control materials and by evaluating their ability to measure quality metrics essential to a clinical test. METHODS: Performance characteristics were assessed within and between 6 CLIA-accredited laboratories and 1 research laboratory. RESULTS: Most laboratories detected all 26 mutations of interest; however, some discrepancies involving the internal quality markers were observed. CONCLUSION: This interlaboratory study showed that the Seraseq AF10 and AF20 control materials have high quality, stability, and genomic complexity in variant types that are well suited for assisting in NGS assay analytical validation and monitoring routine clinical applications.

Molecular Genetic Analysis of Ovarian Brenner Tumors and Associated Mucinous Epithelial Neoplasms: High Variant Concordance and Identification of Mutually Exclusive RAS Driver Mutations and MYC Amplification.

Benign ovarian Brenner tumors often are associated with mucinous cystic neoplasms, which are hypothesized to share a histogenic origin and progression, however, supporting molecular characterization is limited. Our goal was to identify molecular mechanisms linking these tumors. DNA from six Brenner tumors with paired mucinous tumors, two Brenner tumors not associated with a mucinous neoplasm, and two atypical proliferative (borderline) Brenner tumors was extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor samples and sequenced using a 358-gene next-generation sequencing assay. Variant calls were compared within tumor groups to assess somatic mutation profiles. There was high concordance of the variants between paired samples (40% to 75%; P < 0.0001). Four of the six tumor pairs showed KRAS hotspot driver mutations specifically in the mucinous tumor. In the two paired samples that lacked KRAS mutations, MYC amplification was detected in both of the mucinous and the Brenner components; MYC amplification also was detected in a third Brenner tumor. Five of the Brenner tumors had no reportable potential driver alterations. The two atypical proliferative (borderline) Brenner tumors both had RAS mutations. The high degree of coordinate variants between paired Brenner and mucinous tumors supports a shared origin or progression. Differences observed in affected genes and pathways, particularly involving RAS and MYC, may point to molecular drivers of a divergent phenotype and progression of these tumors.

Development and validation of the JAX Cancer Treatment Profile™ for detection of clinically actionable mutations in solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: The continued development of targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment has required the concomitant development of more expansive methods for the molecular profiling of the patient's tumor. We describe the validation of the JAX Cancer Treatment Profile™ (JAX-CTP™), a next generation sequencing (NGS)-based molecular diagnostic assay that detects actionable mutations in solid tumors to inform the selection of targeted therapeutics for cancer treatment. METHODS: NGS libraries are generated from DNA extracted from formalin fixed paraffin embedded tumors. Using hybrid capture, the genes of interest are enriched and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 2500 or MiSeq sequencers followed by variant detection and functional and clinical annotation for the generation of a clinical report. RESULTS: The JAX-CTP™ detects actionable variants, in the form of single nucleotide variations and small insertions and deletions (≤50 bp) in 190 genes in specimens with a neoplastic cell content of ≥10%. The JAX-CTP™ is also validated for the detection of clinically actionable gene amplifications. CONCLUSIONS: There is a lack of consensus in the molecular diagnostics field on the best method for the validation of NGS-based assays in oncology, thus the importance of communicating methods, as contained in this report. The growing number of targeted therapeutics and the complexity of the tumor genome necessitate continued development and refinement of advanced assays for tumor profiling to enable precision cancer treatment.