KRASᴳ¹²ᶜ Mutation–Positive Advanced NSCLC

2021 Year in Review: Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer —December 29, 2021

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Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most frequent cancer in both men and women, and the leading cause of cancer death on the globe.1 Non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 84% of lung cancer cases.1 The majority of patients with NSCLC in the United States have advanced disease and a dismal prognosis.1

NSCLC has a high prevalence of mutations in the RAS viral oncogene family of proto-oncogenes, with the KRAS homolog being the most often mutated isoform.1 KRAS mutations are detected in 20% to 40% of NSCLC cases in Western cultures.2 They are more common in Western populations than in Asian populations, and more prevalent in smokers than nonsmokers.2

Despite the fact that KRAS mutations in NSCLC tumors have been detected for more than 30 years, they have long been regarded as “untreatable,” and until recently no licensed targeted therapy existed.2

We now have a better understanding of the complex interactions involved in the RAS family of signaling proteins thanks to the discovery of the switch II pocket on the surface of active and inactive forms of KRAS, which has led to the development of a number of promising direct KRASG12C inhibitors, such as sotorasib and adagrasib (MRTX-849).3 Clinical activity has been demonstrated for sotorasib and adagrasib monotherapy in previously treated patients with KRASG12C mutation–positive NSCLC; these findings have led to the development of new targeted therapeutic options.3

Sotorasib is a covalent KRASG12C inhibitor that binds to the switch II pocket within mutant KRAS, trapping it in an inactive form irreversibly and selectively.3 In the CodeBreaK 100 study, sotorasib monotherapy was tested in patients with previously treated, locally progressed, or metastatic cancers carrying a KRASG12C mutation.3 Findings from this study led to its regulatory approval in the United States in 2021. Adagrasib is another KRASG12C inhibitor in development.3

Although sotorasib and adagrasib have shown to be effective in treating individuals with lung adenocarcinomas and KRASG12C mutations, numerous uncertainties remain. What are the mechanisms of inhibitor resistance, and how may a greater understanding of these mechanisms help with patient selection or combination strategies?3

References

  1. Spira AI, Tu H, Aggarwal S, et al. A retrospective observational study of the natural history of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer in patients with KRAS p.G12C mutated or wild-type disease. Lung Cancer. 2021;159:1-9.
  2. Sebastian M, Eberhardt WEE, Hoffknecht P, et al; for the CRISP Registry Group. KRAS G12C-mutated advanced non-small cell lung cancer: a real-world cohort from the German prospective, observational, nation-wide CRISP Registry (AIO-TRK-0315). Lung Cancer. 2021;154:51-61.
  3. Reck M, Carbone DP, Garassino M, Barlesi F. Targeting KRAS in non-small-cell lung cancer: recent progress and new approaches. Ann Oncol. 2021;32:1101-1110.
Related Articles
Sotorasib Conveys Long-Term Benefits in Patients With KRAS G12C–Mutated Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer
Web Exclusives
Analysis of the long-term results of the CodeBreak 100 clinical trial showed that sotorasib demonstrated long-term efficacy, in particular among patients with low initial circulating tumor DNA values.
NGS Testing More Cost-Effective Than SGT in Oncology
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A recent study showed that next-generation sequencing testing has superior cost benefit when compared with single-gene testing for multiple cancer types, including non–small cell lung cancer.
Phase 3 Study of Sotorasib in NSCLC Demonstrated Shorter PFS Than Phase 1/2 Trials
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Analysis of the phase 3 study of sotorasib in patients with non–small cell lung cancer found faster time to response compared with docetaxel but a shorter progression-free survival than what was seen in the phase 1/2 trials.
Last modified: August 10, 2023

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