Tumor gene mutations and messenger RNA expression： correlation with clinical response to icotinib hydrochloride in non-small cell lung cancer

Background Molecular targeted drugs is now widely used in non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC） clinical treatment. Icotinib hydrochloride is a new type of oral epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR） tyrosine kinase inhibitors （EGFR-TKIs）. In this study, we examined the role of EGFR, K-RAS, B-RAF somatic mutations and EGFR mRNA expression in tumor specimens from advanced NSCLC patients as predicators of the efficacy of icotinib hydrochloride. Methods We analyzed tumor paraffin-embedded specimens, which were obtained from 14 of 40 patients with advanced NSCLC who enrolled in the stage I clinical trial of icotinib hydrochloride. Somatic mutations were evaluated by mutant-enriched liquidchip （MEL） technology, and EGFR mRNA expression was measured by branched DNA liquidchip （MBL） technology. Results In the 14 specimens, seven patients showed EGFR mutations, exon 19 deletion （3/7） and exon 21 point mutation （4/7）; and two patients showed K-RAS mutation. No mutations in EGFR exon 20. or B-RAF were detected. In patients with EGFR mutation, one patient developed progress disease （PD）, three patients had stable disease （SD）, two patients had partial responses （PR） and one patient had a complete response （CR）. In patients with wild-type EGFR, four patients had PD, three patients acquired SD, and none had PR/CR （P=-0.0407）. EGFR mutations were associated with better progress-free survival （PFS） （141 days vs. 61 days） but without a statistically significant difference （P=0.8597）, and median overall survival （OS） （-〉449 days vs. 140 days）. EGFR mRNA expression levels were evaluated （three high, eight moderate, one low, and two that can not be measured due to insufficient tumor tissue） and no statistically significant relationships was observed with response, PFS or OS. Conclusions The EGFR mutation rate was consistent with that reported in the Asian population, so the MEL technology is reliable for measuring EGFR mutation with high throughput and rapidity. EGFR exon 19 deletions and exon 21 point mutation are predictive biomarkers for response to icotinib hvdrochloride as second line treatment or above.

Lung adenocarcinoma harboring rare epidermal growth factor receptor L858R and V834L mutations treated with icotinib:A case report

BACKGROUND Epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)tyrosine-kinase inhibitors are widely used for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations.However,patients with rare,even compound EGFR mutations have different responses to EGFR-tyrosine-kinase inhibitors,which bring uncertainty to clinical treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 45-year-old female patient presented with a 3-mo history of cough and white sputum without chest pain.Chest computed tomography revealed lung spaceoccupying lesions and multiple lymphadenectasis.Bronchoscopy and pathology suggested lung adenocarcinoma.Compound variation of EGFR gene(exon 21 L858 R/V834 L)was detected in both tissue and circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid samples.As a result of next-generation sequencing and her family’s wishes,the patient was given oral treatment with icotinib hydrochloride(125 mg/d,tid)from March 21,2019 and has achieved stable disease for the last 1 year.CONCLUSION Non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma with EGFR L858 R/V834 L was treated successfully with icotinib,and it may be a new medication treatment option.

The short-term efficacy of icotinib on the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer

Objective： The aim of the study was, （1） to observe the short-term efficacy and adverse reactions of icotinib hydrochloride on the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer （NSCLC）; （2） to explore whether there is difference in the efficacy of icotinib hydrochloride among the subgroups of sex, age, smoking history, classification of CEA, histological type, multi-line treatment and PS score. Methods： The study was conducted to collect 138 patients taking icotinib hydrochloride with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in hospitals of Dalian （China） from September 1st 2011 to June 14th 2012. All patients had taken icotinib hydrochloride （125 mg three times a day） until the disease was progressed or the adverse reactions could not be tolerated. During the period of taking it, other anti-tumor treatments were forbidden. We observed the symptoms, such as cough, short breath, hemoptysis, pain. The objective efficacy was evaluated by RECIST criteria, and the adverse reactions related to the treatment was assessed on the basis of NCl-CTC 3.0. Results： Of all patients, CR was 1 （0.7%）, PR was 59 （42.8%）, SD was 37 （26.8%）, PD was 41 （29.7%）. And ORR was 43.5% （60/138）, DCR 70.3% （97/138）. The DCR of females was 83.5% （71/85） versus 49.1% （26/53） of males. The difference of ORR and DCR between the two subgroups had statistical significance （X2 = 8.065, P = 0.05; X2 = 18.577, P = 0.000）. The difference of ORR and DCR between the subgroups of patients after or before 70 years old had no statistical significance. The difference of ORR and DCR between the subgroups of smoking and non-smoking had statistical significance （X2 = 8.492; X2 = 13.602）. The difference of ORR and DCR between the CEA subgroups had statistical significance （X2 = 14.141; X2 = 14.160）, showed 81 patients with abnormal CEA before the treatment with ORR 56.8.0% （46/81）, DCR 81.5% （66/81）; 57 patients of normal CEA before the treatment with ORR 24.6% （14/57）, DCR 52.6% （30/57）. The 36 patients （26.1%） using icotinib hydrochloride as the first-line treatment, 78 patients （56.5%） using icotinib hydrochloride as the second-line, 20 patients （14.5%） using icotinib hydrochloride as the third-line, and 4 patients （2.9%） with tyrosine kinase inhibitor （TKI） resistance, there was statistical difference of DCR among the multi-groups above （~2 = 11.734, P = 0.008）. ORR was 31.1% （14/45） versus DCR 53.3% （24/45） in 45 patients with PS 3-4 points, and ORR was 49.4% （46/93） versus DCR 78.5% （73/93） in 93 patients with PS 0-2 points, and there was statistical difference （X2 = 4.156; X2 = 9.149）. The main adverse reactions were rash （26.8%）, diarrhea （13.8%）, mild liver function abnormal （10.9%）. Conclusion： The short-term efficacy of icotinib hydrochloride on the treatment of advanced NSCLC is positive, and the relevant adverse reactions are mild. The efficacy is better when the patient is female, non-smoker, treated as first-line, with higher CEA before treatment and lower PS scores.