TTF-1 negativity as a biomarker of outcomes to immunotherapy, chemoimmunotherapy, and KRAS G12C inhibitors in lung adenocarcinoma.
Authors: Di Federico Alessandro , Hong Lingzhi , Elkrief Arielle , Thummalapalli Rohit , Cooper Alissa Jamie , Shaverdian Narek , Ricciuti Biagio , Alessi Joao Victor Machado , De Giglio Andrea , Pecci Federica , Lamberti Giuseppe , Gandhi Malini Marion , Sholl Lynette M. , Nishino Mizuki , Ardizzoni Andrea , Heist Rebecca Suk , Arbour Kathryn C. , Schoenfeld Adam Jacob , Vokes Natalie I , Awad Mark M. 
Published: June 2024

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Background: Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) expression is routinely assessed in lung adenocarcinomas (LUAD) and is negative (TTF-1Neg) in 15-20% of cases. Whether these tumors differ from LUAD expressing TTF-1 (TTF-1Pos) in terms of biologic features and outcomes is unclear. Methods: Patients (pts) with LUAD and available TTF-1 expression by IHC at five institutions were included. Clinicopathologic, genomic, and outcomes data were compared according to TTF-1 expression. Results: Among 3,315 pts with LUAD, TTF-1 was negative in 15% (N=499). Compared to TTF-1Pos (N=2,816), pts with TTF-1Neg LUAD were more likely male (44% vs 38%, P=0.01), smokers (82% vs 74%, P<0.001), with stage IV disease at diagnosis (76% vs 71%, P<0.001), and lower median PD-L1 tumor proportion score (TPS, 1% vs 10%, P<0.001). At stage IV diagnosis, TTF-1Neg cases less commonly had brain metastasis than TTF-1Pos cases (35% vs 44%, P=0.04), but more frequently had bone metastasis (53% vs 45%, P=0.03). TTF-1Neg LUAD was enriched for KRAS, STK11, KEAP1, SMARCA4, and CDKN2A mutations (q<0.05), while TTF-1Pos LUAD was enriched for EGFR and MET mutations (q<0.05). Compared to TTF-1Pos LUAD, TTF-1Neg LUAD had higher prevalence of KRAS G12D (12% vs 4%, P<0.001) and G12V mutations (11% vs 7%, P=0.001), but similar frequency of G12C mutations (14% vs 15%, P=0.82). The association between TTF-1 and treatment outcomes was next investigated. Pts with stage III unresectable TTF-1Neg LUAD who received durvalumab after chemo-radiation (N=20), compared to TTF-1Pos cases (N=174), had shorter median progression-free survival (mPFS, 7.6 vs 24.7 months, P=0.01) and overall survival (mOS, 22.7 months vs not reached, P=0.01). Among pts with stage IV LUAD, TTF-1Neg cases treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (N=237), compared to TTF-1Pos (N=1,161), had worse objective response rate (ORR, 17% vs 28%, P<0.001), mPFS (2.5 vs 4.7 months, P<0.001) and mOS (9.8 vs 20.9 months, P<0.001). Similarly, pts with TTF-1Neg LUAD (N=297) treated with chemoimmunotherapy, compared to TTF-1Pos cases (N=920), had worse ORR (27% vs 42%, P<0.001), mPFS (4.6 vs 8.1 months, P<0.001) and mOS (11.2 vs 23.4 months, P<0.001). TTF-1 negativity retained its association with worse outcomes after adjusting for treatment line, ECOG performance status, smoking status, PD-L1 TPS, STK11/ KEAP1 mutation status in multivariable cox regression models. Lastly, pts with KRAS G12C mutated TTF-1Neg LUAD treated with KRAS inhibitors (N=25), compared to TTF-1Pos (N=138), had worse ORR (12% vs 35%, P=0.03), mPFS (2.7 vs 5.9 months, P<0.001), and mOS (4.4 vs 12.1 months, P<0.001). After excluding mucinous LUAD cases, which are more commonly TTF-1Neg, similar results were observed. Conclusions: TTF-1 negativity identifies a unique clinicopathologic and genomic subset of LUAD with worse outcomes to diverse systemic therapies.