TitleAcquired Resistance to the Mutant-Selective EGFR Inhibitor AZD9291 Is Associated with Increased Dependence on RAS Signaling in Preclinical Models.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2015
AuthorsEberlein, CA, Stetson, D, Markovets, AA, Al-Kadhimi, KJ, Lai, Z, Fisher, PR, Meador, CB, Spitzler, P, Ichihara, E, Ross, SJ, Ahdesmaki, MJ, Ahmed, A, Ratcliffe, LE, O'Brien, ELChristey, Barnes, CH, Brown, H, Smith, PD, Dry, JR, Beran, G, Thress, KS, Dougherty, B, Pao, W, Cross, DAE
JournalCancer Res
Volume75
Issue12
Pagination2489-500
Date Published2015 Jun 15
ISSN1538-7445
KeywordsAcrylamides, Aniline Compounds, Animals, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Benzimidazoles, Cell Line, Tumor, Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor, ErbB Receptors, Humans, MAP Kinase Signaling System, Mice, Mutation, ras Proteins, Signal Transduction
Abstract

Resistance to targeted EGFR inhibitors is likely to develop in EGFR-mutant lung cancers. Early identification of innate or acquired resistance mechanisms to these agents is essential to direct development of future therapies. We describe the detection of heterogeneous mechanisms of resistance within populations of EGFR-mutant cells (PC9 and/or NCI-H1975) with acquired resistance to current and newly developed EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including AZD9291. We report the detection of NRAS mutations, including a novel E63K mutation, and a gain of copy number of WT NRAS or WT KRAS in cell populations resistant to gefitinib, afatinib, WZ4002, or AZD9291. Compared with parental cells, a number of resistant cell populations were more sensitive to inhibition by the MEK inhibitor selumetinib (AZD6244; ARRY-142886) when treated in combination with the originating EGFR inhibitor. In vitro, a combination of AZD9291 with selumetinib prevented emergence of resistance in PC9 cells and delayed resistance in NCI-H1975 cells. In vivo, concomitant dosing of AZD9291 with selumetinib caused regression of AZD9291-resistant tumors in an EGFRm/T790M transgenic model. Our data support the use of a combination of AZD9291 with a MEK inhibitor to delay or prevent resistance to AZD9291 in EGFRm and/or EGFRm/T790M tumors. Furthermore, these findings suggest that NRAS modifications in tumor samples from patients who have progressed on current or EGFR inhibitors in development may support subsequent treatment with a combination of EGFR and MEK inhibition.

DOI10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-3167
Alternate JournalCancer Res
PubMed ID25870145
PubMed Central IDPMC4605607
Grant ListU54 CA143798 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA68485 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01-CA121210 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
CA90949 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P30-CA68485 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA121210 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P50 CA090949 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
T32 GM007347 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States
P30 CA068485 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P01-CA129243 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
P01 CA129243 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
U54-CA143798 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States