Clinical Benefit in Response to Palbociclib Treatment in Refractory Uterine Leiomyosarcomas with a Common CDKN2A Alteration

• Published in: The oncologist (Dayton, Ohio) Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 416 - 421
• Main Authors: Elvin, Julia A., Gay, Laurie M., Ort, Rita, Shuluk, Joseph, Long, Jennifer, Shelley, Lauren, Lee, Ronald, Chalmers, Zachary R., Frampton, Garrett M., Ali, Siraj M., Schrock, Alexa B., Miller, Vincent A., Stephens, Philip J., Ross, Jeffrey S., Frank, Richard
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States AlphaMed Press 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; CDKN2A; Comprehensive genomic profiling; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p18 - genetics; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic - drug effects; Genomics; Gynecologic Oncology; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing - methods; Humans; Leiomyosarcoma - drug therapy; Leiomyosarcoma - genetics; Leiomyosarcoma - pathology; Middle Aged; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Palbociclib; Piperazines - administration & dosage; Precision medicine; Pyridines - administration & dosage; Targeted therapy; Uterine leiomyosarcoma; Uterine Neoplasms - drug therapy; Uterine Neoplasms - genetics; Uterine Neoplasms - pathology; Comprehensive genomic profiling; Uterine leiomyosarcoma; Precision medicine; CDKN2A; Targeted therapy; Palbociclib
• ISSN: 1083-7159; 1549-490X
• DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2016-0310

Background
Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) responds poorly to conventional chemotherapeutic agents, and personalized therapies have yet to be systematically explored. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) can identify therapeutic targets and provide insight into the biology of this highly aggressive tumor. We report a case of uLMS treated with the CGP‐matched therapy palbociclib, a CDK4/6 inhibitor, with sustained clinical benefit in this rare and deadly malignancy.
Materials and Methods
This study analyzed 279 clinically advanced/recurrent uLMS samples. Median patient age was 54 years (range, 23–83 years). DNA was extracted from 40 µm of formalin‐fixed, paraffin‐embedded sections, and CGP was performed on hybridization‐captured, adaptor ligation‐based libraries for up to 405 cancer‐related genes plus introns from up to 31 genes frequently rearranged in cancer. Sequencing data were analyzed for base pair substitutions, insertions/deletions, copy number alterations, and rearrangements.
Results
CGP shows that 97.1% of uLMS harbor at least one alteration, and approximately 57% harbor alterations in one or more therapeutically targetable pathways. CDKN2A mutations that inactivate p16INK4a were identified in 11% of uLMS. We report the first demonstration of clinical benefit in response to palbociclib treatment for a uLMS patient with a CDKN2A mutation, resulting in disease stabilization and significant symptom reduction.
Conclusion
A patient with uLMS harboring a CDKN2A mutation experienced clinical benefit from treatment with palbociclib, and genomic analysis of 279 uLMS samples revealed that 19% of patients had mutations affecting the cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) pathway. These observations provide a rationale for a clinical trial investigating treatment with CDK pathway inhibitors for uLMS harboring relevant genomic alterations.
Implications for Practice
Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) of individuals with uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) indicates that nearly 20% of patients may harbor a mutation affecting the cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) pathway. The case presented demonstrates that a CDK inhibitory drug may provide clinical benefit to such individuals. Given the lack of curative therapies for uLMS, CGP could be performed on all cases of advanced uLMS and a CDK inhibitor could be recommended (preferably as part of a clinical trial) for individuals harboring a mutation in the CDK pathway.
A patient with uLMS harboring a CDKN2A mutation experienced clinical benefit from treatment with palbociclib, and genomic analysis of 279 uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) samples revealed that 19% of patients had mutations affecting the cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) pathway. These observations provide a rationale for a clinical trial investigating treatment with CDK pathway inhibitors for uLMS harboring relevant genomic alterations.