Drug Sensitivity and Allele Specificity of First-Line Osimertinib Resistance <i>EGFR</i> Mutations.

Abstract

Osimertinib, a mutant-specific third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is emerging as the preferred first-line therapy for <i>EGFR</i>-mutant lung cancer, yet resistance inevitably develops in patients. We modeled acquired resistance to osimertinib in transgenic mouse models of <i>EGFR^L858R</i> -induced lung adenocarcinoma and found that it is mediated largely through secondary mutations in <i>EGFR</i>-either C797S or L718V/Q. Analysis of circulating free DNA data from patients revealed that L718Q/V mutations almost always occur in the context of an L858R driver mutation. Therapeutic testing in mice revealed that both erlotinib and afatinib caused regression of osimertinib-resistant C797S-containing tumors, whereas only afatinib was effective on L718Q mutant tumors. Combination first-line osimertinib plus erlotinib treatment prevented the emergence of secondary mutations in <i>EGFR</i>. These findings highlight how knowledge of the specific characteristics of resistance mutations is important for determining potential subsequent treatment approaches and suggest strategies to overcome or prevent osimertinib resistance <i>in vivo</i>. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides insight into the biological and molecular properties of osimertinib resistance <i>EGFR</i> mutations and evaluates therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/80/10/2017/F1.large.jpg.