Abstract 41: Multi-focal genomic dissection of synchronous primary and metastatic tissue from de novo metastatic prostate cancer
Authors: Warner Evan , Van der Eecken Kim , Murtha Andrew J. , Kwan Edmond M. , Ng Sarah W. , Chen Xinyi E. , Bernales Cecily Q. , Donnellan Grainne , Schonlau Elena , Verbeke Sofie , Lumen Nicolaas , Van Dorpe Jo , Vandekerkhove Gillian , Ritch Elie , Annala Matti , De Laere Bram , Ost Piet , Wyatt Alexander W. 
Published: June 2022

Background: 10% of newly diagnosed prostate cancer presents with metastases. Known as de novo metastatic castrate-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), it is disproportionally responsible for &gt;50% of prostate cancer deaths. Cancer genotyping can identify vulnerabilities exploitable by targeted therapies, and promises to help prognosticate. However, tissue from de novo mCSPC is scarce; neither prostatectomy nor metastatic biopsy is standard, and it is unknown if diagnostic biopsies are representative of synchronous metastases. The potential for plasma circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) to inform on tumor genotype is also unknown.

Methods: We performed comprehensive pathological and genomic assessment of all spatially or phenotypically-distinct tumor foci (n=523) in 43 patients with de novo mCSPC who underwent prostatectomy, pelvic lymph node dissection, and plasma collection.

Results: 91% (478/523) of tissue foci had evidence of prostate cancer by targeted DNA sequencing, with a median tumor fraction of 48%. When modeling random selection of a single primary foci (mirroring biopsy tissue availability in clinic), tumor fraction was &lt;20% in 19% of patients. Only 46% of plasma cell-free DNA samples prior to systemic therapy had a ctDNA fraction above 0.3% (limit of detection); median tumor fraction of 5% in samples with confirmed ctDNA. We observed recurrent alterations in major driver genes, including TP53, FOXA1, PTEN, and RB1, and the genomic landscape was very similar to published cohorts of castration-resistant prostate cancer (excluding AR). Primary site genomic heterogeneity was pervasive, including secondary (clonally distinct) prostate cancer populations in 14% of patients. Polyclonal seeding of metastases was detected in 26% of patients. Biallelic inactivation of TP53, PTEN, and/or RB1 was observed in 63% of tumors, and was frequently found in synchronous metastases and ctDNA. The two patients with compound disruption of TP53, PTEN, and RB1 experienced rapid progression to castration-resistance and death within two years of diagnosis, despite initial low-risk clinical features. Across the cohort, biallelic disruption of TP53 together with high-risk clinical features at diagnosis was associated with rapid progression (HR 4.64 (95% CI: 1.70-12.69); P = 0.003).

Conclusions: One fifth of patients with de novo mCSPC have pervasive low tumor fraction in their primary tumor and blood plasma. Many tumors exhibit spatial heterogeneity within the primary site, with evidence of multiple clones seeding metastases. This data raises concerns about accurate tumor genotyping in routine clinical practice where needle biopsy specimens are the only available tissue for profiling. Nevertheless, some de novo mCSPC are marked by aggressive genomics and experience rapid progression to lethal disease, suggesting that tailored multi-focal genomic profiling can further segment the disease.

Citation Format: Evan Warner, Kim Van der Eecken, Andrew J. Murtha, Edmond M. Kwan, Sarah W. Ng, Xinyi E. Chen, Cecily Q. Bernales, Grainne Donnellan, Elena Schonlau, Sofie Verbeke, Nicolaas Lumen, Jo Van Dorpe, Gillian Vandekerkhove, Elie Ritch, Matti Annala, Bram De Laere, Piet Ost, Alexander W. Wyatt. Multi-focal genomic dissection of synchronous primary and metastatic tissue from de novo metastatic prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 41.