Prevalence and Actionability of MTAP Loss in Oncogene-Driven Lung Cancer

Methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) loss co-occurs with actionable genomic alterations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and creates vulnerability to protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) inhibition. Estimates of prevalence of MTAP loss rely on next-generation sequencing which can underestimate copy losses. Moreover, the activity of PRMT5 inhibitors in oncogene-driven NSCLC is not well established.

We assessed MTAP expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 243 NSCLCs (n=132 early stage, n=111 metastatic), including 33 specimens with paired lymph nodes. Antiproliferative activity of PRMT5 inhibitor monotherapy and in combination with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) was evaluated in MTAP-deleted NSCLC cell lines harboring EGFR or KRAS mutations or ALK rearrangements.

Among 243 NSCLC specimens from 240 patients (72% with driver alterations, 90% adenocarcinoma), MTAP loss was identified in 43 (18%) specimens from 40 (17%) patients, including 18 (14%) early-stage and 22 (20%) metastatic tumors. MTAP loss occurred in 24% of stage 4 driver-positive NSCLCs versus 14% of driver-negative tumors (p=0.314). Twenty (61%) lung-nodal pairs demonstrated concordance; eight cases only exhibited decreased MTAP expression in nodes. Variable sensitivity to PRMT5 inhibitors was observed in 22 MTAP-deleted NSCLC cell lines (9 EGFR-mutant, 7 KRAS-mutant, 6 ALK-rearranged), with responses seen in TKI-sensitive and TKI-resistant lines. SDMA (symmetric dimethylarginine) expression did not predict PRMT5 inhibitor sensitivity. TKI + PRMT5 inhibitor combos had greater activity than monotherapy.

MTAP loss occurs in 1-in-5 oncogene-driven metastatic NSCLCs. PRMT5 inhibitor activity is independent of TKI exposure, driver alteration, and SDMA expression and enhanced by addition of TKI. These findings support clinical evaluation of PRMT5 inhibitor + TKI combinations for advanced NSCLC.