Lung Cancer Driven by BRAF Mutation Is Targetable by EGFR Kinase Inhibitors.

INTRODUCTION

Mutations in BRAF occur in 2% to 4% of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Combination dabrafenib and trametinib, or single-agent vemurafenib is approved only for patients with cancers driven by the V600E BRAF mutation. Targeted therapy is not currently available for patients harboring non-V600 BRAF mutations.

METHODS

A lung adenocarcinoma patient-derived xenograft model (PHLC12) with wild-type and nonamplified EGFR was tested for response to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). A cell line derived from this model (X12CL) was also used to evaluate drug sensitivity and to identify potential drivers by small interfering RNA knockdown. Kinase assays were used to test direct targeting of the candidate driver by the EGFR TKIs. Structural modeling including, molecular dynamics simulations, and binding assays were conducted to explore the mechanism of off-target inhibition by EGFR TKIs on the model 12 driver.

RESULTS

Both patient-derived xenograft PHLC12 and the X12CL cell line were sensitive to multiple EGFR TKIs. The BRAF mutation was found to be the only known oncogenic mutation in this model. Small interfering RNA knockdown of BRAF, but not the EGFR, killed X12CL, confirming BRAF as the oncogenic driver. Kinase activity of the BRAF protein isolated from X12CL was inhibited by treatment with the EGFR TKIs gefitinib and osimertinib, and expression of BRAF in non-EGFR-expressing NR6 cells promoted growth in low serum condition, which was also sensitive to EGFR TKIs. Structural modeling, molecular dynamic simulations, and in vitro binding assays support BRAF being a direct target of the TKIs.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinically approved EGFR TKIs can be repurposed to treat patients with non-small cell lung cancer harboring the BRAF mutation.