Serial Circulating Tumor DNA Mutational Status in Patients with <i>KRAS</i>-Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer from the Phase 3 AIO KRK0207 Trial
Smiths Lueong, Andreas Herbst, Sven‐Thorsten Liffers, Nicola Bielefeld, Péter Horn, Andrea Tannapfel, Anke Reinacher‐Schick, Axel Hinke, Susanna Hegewisch‐Becker, Frank T. Kolligs, Jens T. Siveke
Abstract
BACKGROUND: We assessed the usefulness of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) pre- or post-treatment initiation for outcome prediction and treatment monitoring in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). METHODS: Droplet digital PCR was used to measure absolute mutant V-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene ((mut)KRAS) ctDNA concentrations in 214 healthy controls (plasma and sera) and in 151 tissue-based mutKRAS positive patients with mCRC from the prospective multicenter phase 3 trial AIO KRK0207. Serial mutKRAS ctDNA was analyzed prior to and 2-3 weeks after first-line chemotherapy initiation with fluoropyrimidine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab in patients with mCRC and correlated with clinical parameters. RESULTS: mut KRAS ctDNA was detected in 74.8% (113/151) of patients at baseline and in 59.6% (90/151) at follow-up. mutKRAS ctDNA at baseline and follow-up was associated with poor overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio [HR] =1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-2.95; HR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.47-3.15) and progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.44-4.46; HR = 1.90, 95% CI 1.23-2.95), respectively. mutKRAS ctDNA clearance at follow-up conferred better disease control (P = 0.0075), better OS (log-rank P = 0.0018), and PFS (log-rank P = 0.0018). Measurable positive mutKRAS ctDNA at follow-up was the strongest and most significant independent prognostic factor on OS in multivariable analysis (HR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.40-3.25). CONCLUSIONS: Serial analysis of circulating mutKRAS concentrations in mCRC has prognostic value. Post treatment mutKRAS concentrations 2 weeks after treatment initiation were associated with therapeutic response in multivariable analysis and may be an early response predictor in patients receiving first-line combination chemotherapy. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT00973609.