Abstract PO2-16-05: ESR1 mutations (ESR1mut) in HR(+)HER2(-)patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC): prevalence along treatment course and predictive value for endocrine therapy (ET) resistance in real-world practice
Authors: Bhave Manali , Quintanilha Julia , Graf Ryon , Scott Takara , Tukachinsky Hanna , Li Gerald , Schrock Alexa , Oxnard Geoffrey , Levy Mia , Kalinsky Kevin 
Published: May 2024

Background: ET combined with CDK4/6 inhibitors (CDKi) is the standard of care for HR(+)HER2(-) patients with MBC. ESR1mut is an acquired resistance mechanism to ET, especially aromatase inhibitors (AI). The prevalence and behavior of ESR1mut in patients receiving the selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) fulvestrant remains in question. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence of ESR1mut at start of successive lines of therapy and to evaluate clinical outcomes of ET by ESR1 status in 1st line therapy in real-world practice. Methods: This study included patients with HR(+)HER2(-) MBC who underwent genomic testing using Foundation Medicine tissue or liquid comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) assays, with specimens collected within 60 days of therapy initiation. Patient clinical data was obtained by the nationwide (US-based) de-identified Flatiron Health and Foundation Medicine real-world clinicogenomic breast database (FH-FMI CGDB), originated from ~280 US cancer clinics (~800 sites of care) between 01/2011 and 04/2023. ESR1mut prevalence was calculated in tissue and liquid samples collected in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of therapy. Real-world progression free-survival (rwPFS), time to treatment discontinuation (rwTTD), and overall survival (rwOS) were compared between patients who received AI + CDKi and between patients receiving fulvestrant + CDKi 1st line therapy [ESR1mut vs. ESR1 wild-type (wt) by tissue CGP] by Cox models. Multivariable analyses adjusted for adjuvant therapy, age, ECOG, menopausal status, histology, stage at diagnosis, metastatic site, and specific ESR1mut (Y537S, D538G, E380W, or others) were performed. Results: The prevalence of ESR1mut in tissue samples collected in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of therapy was 7.9% (n=159/2004), 26.4% (n=66/250), and 34.0% (n=68/200), respectively. The prevalence of ESR1mut in liquid samples collected in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd lines of therapy was 11.6% (n=30/259) 34.4% (n=63/183), and 35.9% (n=42/117), respectively. Among patients receiving AI + CDKi 1st line therapy (n=485), those with ESR1mut vs. ESR1wt had less favorable rwPFS [median 6.1 vs. 20.8 months, hazard ratio (HR) 2.36, 95% CI 1.35-4.14, p=0.003]. rwTTD and rwOS assessments were consistent with the magnitude of effect of rwPFS. Among patients receiving fulvestrant + CDKi 1st line therapy (n=302), those with ESR1mut vs. ESR1wt had less favorable rwPFS (median 10.5 vs. 14.5 months, HR 1.5, 95% CI 1.05-2.15, p=0.025), but no difference was observed for rwTTD and rwOS (p &gt;0.05). Notably, the multivariable analyses found the independent association of ESR1mut and less favorable rwPFS (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.15-4.1, p=0.018), rwTTD (HR 3.34, 95% CI, 1.84-6.1, p&lt; 0.001), and rwOS (HR 2.46, 95% CI 1.04-5.9, p=0.041) in patients receiving AI + CDKi. The multivariable analyses confirmed no association between ESR1mut and outcomes in patients receiving fulvestrant + CDKi (p &gt;0.05). No substantial differential associations were observed between specific ESR1mut and clinical outcomes in the multivariable analyses. Conclusion: In our dataset, ESR1mut is prevalent in about 8-11% of baseline tissue and liquid samples of patients with HR(+)HER2(-) MBC. Baseline ESR1mut is associated with less favorable outcomes in patients receiving AI + CDKi 1st line therapy, but not in patients receiving fulvestrant + CDKi. Specific ESR1mut do not seem to be associated with different outcomes to ET. ESR1mut prevalence increased during treatment course. Further investigation is warranted to determine optimal endocrine partner with CDKi based upon ESR1 status, particularly with development of oral SERDs.

Citation Format: Manali Bhave, Julia Quintanilha, Ryon Graf, Takara Scott, Hanna Tukachinsky, Gerald Li, Alexa Schrock, Geoffrey Oxnard, Mia Levy, Kevin Kalinsky. ESR1 mutations (ESR1mut) in HR(+)HER2(-)patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC): prevalence along treatment course and predictive value for endocrine therapy (ET) resistance in real-world practice [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO2-16-05.