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Updated: Jun 18, 2025

Next Generation Sequencing for the Detection of Actionable Mutations in Solid and Liquid Tumors
Published on: September 20, 2016
Synchronous Double Primary Lung Adenocarcinomas With EGFR L858R Point Mutation and MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutation
Seijitsu Ando1, Shinji Futami1, Koji Azuma1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, NHO Osaka National Hospital, Osaka City, Osaka 540-0006, Japan.
Abstract:
Various driver mutations and the corresponding molecular-targeted drugs have been detected and developed in non-small cell lung cancer. There were many cases in which surgical specimens had happened to find double primary cancers. However, to our knowledge, our case was the first report of synchronous double primary lung adenocarcinomas harboring epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. A 75-year-old Japanese woman with chronic heart and renal failures was referred to our department because of a growing nodule in the right upper lung field on chest X-ray films. Chest computed tomography (CT) detected a nodule in the right S1 and another nodule in the left S1+2. Bronchoscopic biopsy diagnosed the right S1 nodule as moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Oncomine Dx Target Test Multi-CDx system of the right S1 adenocarcinoma detected EGFR L858R mutation. The 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT showed abnormal uptakes both in the right S1 and the left S1+2 nodules, and in the bilateral inferior paratracheal lymph nodes. We made a diagnosis of c-stage IIIA (cT1bN2M0) of adenocarcinoma in the right S1 and suspected another primary lung cancer in the left S1+2. Considering her general conditions, comorbidities and wishes, we started osimertinib. The right S1 cancer achieved partial response (PR), while the left S1+2 nodule and lymph nodes enlarged. Aspiration cytology from the left supraclavicular lymph node showed adenocarcinoma. The FoundationOne® Liquid CDx tumor profiling test detected not only EGFR L858R, but also MET exon 14 skipping mutation. We made a diagnosis of another primary adenocarcinoma from the left S1+2 nodule (cT1bN3M0, c-stage IIIB) with MET mutation, and changed osimertinib to capmatinib. Although the left S1+2 cancer achieved and maintained PR by capmatinib, the right S1 cancer increased, and several new metastases appeared. The subsequent switch from capmatinib to osimertinib could not control cancers. In this case, we tried to switch monotherapies from osimertinib to capmatinib for double primary adenocarcinomas harboring different two driver mutations, according to each cancer progression. The temporal and spatial heterogeneity reinforces the need for primary tissue biopsy if dual primaries are suspected. Temporally distinct liquid biopsies, not standard at present, may be considered.
Insights
This case report details the first instance of synchronous double primary lung adenocarcinomas with distinct epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) L858R and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping mutations. Treatment involved sequential targeted therapies, highlighting the complexity of managing multiple lung cancers with different driver mutations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) management has advanced with molecular-targeted drugs for specific driver mutations.
- Synchronous double primary lung cancers are occasionally found in surgical specimens, posing diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
- The co-occurrence of distinct driver mutations in separate primary lung tumors is rare.
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