Prognostic and predictive value of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) by amplicon-based next generation sequencing (NGS) of advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) in a phase I trial of oxaliplatin capecitabine and irinotecan (OXIRI) triplet chemotherapy.
730 Background: Tumoral KRAS mutations (KRAS mt) are detected in ~80% of APC and associated with a negative prognosis. Digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) has high sensitivity for circulating KRASmtbut narrower gene coverage. NGS using hybrid-capture methods has reported ctDNA KRASmtin ~30% of patients (pt). We previously presented clinical results of the Phase I trial of OXIRI (GI ASCO 18 #411). We now present the first prospective evaluation of ctDNA in APC by an amplicon-based NGS approach in this Phase I trial. Methods: Paired ctDNA and CA19-9 samples were taken at baseline, C2D1, C3D1 and end of trial. A targeted panel with error-correction (Lucence Diagnostics) was used to detect for mtin KRAS, TP53, SMAD4, CDKN2A, CTNNB1, GNAS, APC and MYC. CT scans were performed every 2 cycles. Survival curves by Kaplan Meier were compared by mutational status, ctDNA and CA19-9 response using the log-rank test. Spearman correlation of ctDNA and CA19-9 changes was performed. Results: ctDNA mtwas detected at baseline in 19/23 (83%) samples, comprising KRAS 17/23 (73%), TP53 (61%), SMAD4 (48%) and CDKN2A (30%). KRAS mtand SMAD4 mt conferred a negative prognosis for overall survival with a hazard ratio of 4.2 (CI: 1.6-10.4; p = 0.01) and 2.8 (CI: 0.9-8.65; p = 0.01) respectively. Drop in ctDNA and CA19-9 was associated with a trend for longer progression free survival at C2D1 (both) and C3D1 (ctDNA only). Radiological partial response (PR) was associated with lower ctDNA in 5/5 pt and CA 19-9 in 4/5 pt. Decrease in ctDNA and CA19-9 was associated with disease control (PR/SD) at C2D1 in 11/14 pt and 10/10 pt; at C3D1 in 11/12 pt and 6/7 respectively. No significant correlation between the amplitude of CA19-9 and ctDNA changes was found. Conclusions: ctDNA could be detected in 83% of pts of whom KRAS mtrates were similar to reports using tissue NGS. Determination of RAS mtand SMAD4 mtin ctDNA may aid in the prognostication of pts and decrease in ctDNA levels may predict for treatment benefit, similar in extent to CA 19-9. This may be particularly useful in non-CA19-9 secreting APC as an adjunct to imaging. Clinical trial information: NCT02368860.