Amphiregulin (AR) expression in the prediction of benefit from cetuximab plus irinotecan in KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients

Abstract

4021 Background: AR is an endogenous ligand of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), whose binding is prevented in the presence of cetuximab. Methods: We retrospectively assessed KRAS mutational status and AR expression at immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 86 irinotecan-refractory EGFR-positive mCRC patients treated with cetuximab plus irinotecan. AR-IHC was performed on tissue sections from paraffin-embedded primary tumors. Specimens were defined AR-low or AR-high according to a score (range 0–300) obtained multiplying intensity (0 to 3+) by percentage of stained cells (0–100%). According to the results of a ROC analysis, we identified a cut-off value of 18. The association between AR-IHC and treatment outcome in terms of response rate (RR), PFS, and OS was investigated in the subgroup of KRAS wild-type patients. Results: Eighty-six consecutive patients were included. M/F = 44/42, median age = 67 (41–78), median number of previous lines of chemotherapy = 2 (1–5). Among 51 (59%) KRAS wild-type patients, 12 PRs and 1 CR were observed, for an overall RR of 25% (13/51). AR-IHC was high, low or unconclusive in 27, 22 and 2 cases respectively. AR-low patients reported a significantly worse RR (2/22, 9%) compared with AR-high (10/27, 37%) (p = 0.024) and a trend toward shorter PFS (3.5 vs 5.3 months, HR 0.88 [95%CI: 0.46–1.60], p = 0.628) and OS (8.8 vs 15.1 months, HR 0.60 [95%CI: 0.30–1.10], p = 0.106). Conclusions: These results underline the potential role of endogenous ligands in influencing the activity of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Absent or low AR expression at IHC may be related to resistance to cetuximab plus irinotecan. Further data regarding the prognostic impact of AR expression are needed. No significant financial relationships to disclose.