Pan-tumor landscape of fibroblast growth factor receptor 1-4 genomic alterations

K Murugesan1, A Necchi2, T C Burn3

  • 1Cancer Genomics Research, Foundation Medicine, Inc., Cambridge, USA.

ESMO Open
|December 3, 2022
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study surveyed fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genomic alterations across over 350,000 tumors. Findings reveal specific FGFR alterations and co-occurring mutations in cancers like bladder, liver, and brain, aiding targeted therapy development.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitors are emerging therapies for FGFR-altered cancers, including bladder cancer and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
  • Understanding resistance mechanisms to FGFR inhibitors necessitates a comprehensive analysis of FGFR alterations.
  • This study investigates the pan-tumor landscape of FGFR1-4 genomic alterations (short variants, rearrangements, copy number alterations) and their associations with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and co-occurring genomic events.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To survey the pan-tumor landscape of FGFR1-4 genomic alterations.
  • To investigate the association of FGFR alterations with tumor mutational burden (TMB).
  • To identify co-occurring genomic alterations with FGFR alterations across various cancer types.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive genomic profiling of 355,813 solid tumor clinical cases using FoundationOne and FoundationOne CDx assays.
  • Identification of FGFR1-4 short variants (SVs), gene rearrangements (REs), and copy number alterations (CNAs).
  • Analysis of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and co-occurring/mutually exclusive genomic alterations.

Main Results:

  • FGFR1-4 SVs and REs occurred in 2.7% of samples, while CNAs occurred in 4.2%.
  • Specific FGFR alterations were identified as common in bladder cancer (FGFR3 SVs), intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (FGFR2 REs), and glioma (FGFR1 SVs).
  • Tumor-specific associations were found between FGFR alterations and other genomic markers, including TMB levels and co-occurring mutations (e.g., TERT, CDKN2A/B in bladder cancer; BAP1 in cholangiocarcinoma; H3-3A, PTPN11 in glioma).

Conclusions:

  • The identified FGFR alterations and their genomic co-occurrences provide a foundation for stratifying patients in clinical trials.
  • These findings can guide the optimal selection of targeted therapies for patients with FGFR-altered cancers.
  • Further research into these associations may elucidate FGFR inhibitor resistance mechanisms.

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