Small cell transformation in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: DLL3 expression and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors or tyrosine kinase inhibitors combined with chemotherapy

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Felix Carl Saalfeld - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Johanna Möller - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden (Author)
  • Petros Christopoulos - , Heidelberg University , Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC) - DZL Heidelberg, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Carina Wenzel - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Anna Rasokat - , University of Cologne, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Xuejun Alice Wang - , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Author)
  • Ioannis Vathiotis - , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Author)
  • David König - , University of Basel (Author)
  • Oliver Illini - , Klinik Floridsdorf, Karl Landsteiner Society (Author)
  • Christian Grohé - , Johannesstift Diakonie, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Marcel Wiesweg - , University of Duisburg-Essen, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Claas Wesseler - , Asklepios Hospital Harburg (Author)
  • Christoph Schubart - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Natalie Pelusi - , University of Bonn, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Gernot Rohde - , University Hospital Frankfurt (Author)
  • Tobias R. Overbeck - , University of Göttingen, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Jutta Kirfel - , Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Jürgen Alt - , University Medical Center Mainz , National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Diego Kauffmann-Guerrero - , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Frank Griesinger - , University of Oldenburg, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Jonas Kulhavy - , University of Würzburg, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Michael Allgäuer - , Heidelberg University , National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Anna Klimova - , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Dresden (Author)
  • Maret Schütz - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Daniela E. Aust - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Maximilian J. Hochmair - , Klinik Floridsdorf, Karl Landsteiner Society (Author)
  • Sacha I. Rothschild - , Cantonal Hospital Baden (Author)
  • Konstantinos N. Syrigos - , National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Author)
  • Rajwanth Veluswamy - , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Author)
  • Sebastian Michels - , University of Cologne, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Albrecht Stenzinger - , Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg (TLRC) - DZL Heidelberg, Heidelberg University , National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)
  • Korinna Jöhrens - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH (Author)
  • Martin Wermke - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden, National Network Genomic Medicine Lung Cancer (nNGM) (Author)

Abstract

Introduction: Small cell transformation (SCT) is a typical mechanism of adaptive resistance to third generation epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRi) which have become the standard of care for EGFR-driven non-small cell lung cancer (EGFR+ NSCLC). Little is known about the optimal management of SCT patients. This study aimed to compare outcomes under platinum/etoposide chemotherapy alone (chemo) or in combination with EGFR inhibitors (EGFRi+chemo) or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI+chemo). In addition, DLL3 expression was explored as potential novel therapeutic target. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study on patients with EGFR+ NSCLC and SCT treated at 19 centers in Europe and the United States. A total of 47 patients were included of whom 17 received chemo, 20 ICI+chemo, and 10 EGFRi+chemo. We analyzed DLL3 expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: In the entire cohort, median overall survival (OS) from start of first SCT therapy was 11 months (95 % confidence interval [95 %CI] 9.1–12.9) and median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5 months (95 %CI 4.2–5.8). Median PFS was similar in all three groups (chemo and ICI+chemo 4 months, EGFRi+chemo 6 months), and 12-months PFS was 12 % (95 %CI 2 %−31 %), 13 % (95 %CI 0 %−43 %), and 0 % for ICI+chemo, EGFRi+chemo, and chemo, respectively. Median OS in the ICI+chemo group was 13 months (95 %CI 5.5–20.5) compared to 10 months (95 %CI 7.6–12.4) with chemo and EGFRi+chemo (95 %CI 8.1–11.9), respectively. Before and after SCT, 0 % and 93 % of tumors were DLL3-positive. Conclusions: Our results suggest that ICI+chemo and DLL3-targeting agents are worth further exploration in EGFR+ NSCLC undergoing SCT. Presented elsewhere: Part of this work has been presented at ESMO annual meeting in Madrid, Spain in October 2023 (Poster 1336 P).

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number115065
JournalEuropean journal of cancer
Volume213
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 39423775
ORCID /0000-0002-4095-8649/work/172086475

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • DLL3, EGFR mutation, Immune checkpoint inhibitor, Non-small cell lung cancer, Small cell transformation