Concordance of BRCA mutation detection in tumor versus blood, and frequency of bi-allelic loss of BRCA in tumors from patients in the phase III SOLO2 trial

Gynecol Oncol. 2021 Dec;163(3):563-568. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2021.10.002. Epub 2021 Nov 4.

Abstract

Objective: Maintenance olaparib provided a progression-free survival benefit in the phase III SOLO2 trial (NCT01874353) in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer and a BRCA mutation (BRCAm). However, questions remain regarding tumor versus germline BRCA testing and the impact of heterozygous versus bi-allelic loss of BRCA1 or BRCA2 in the tumor.

Methods: Blood and tumor samples were analyzed. A concordance analysis of germline BRCAm status (BRACAnalysis® CLIA test) and tumor BRCAm status (myChoice® CDx test) was conducted (Myriad Genetic Laboratories, Inc.). Bi-allelic loss of BRCA1 and BRCA2 and a genomic instability score (GIS) (myChoice® CDx test) were also determined.

Results: 289 of 295 enrolled patients had a germline BRCAm confirmed centrally and tumor BRCAm status was evaluable in 241 patients. There was 98% and 100% concordance between tumor and germline testing for BRCA1m and BRCA2m, respectively, with discordance found in four cases. Of 210 tumor samples evaluable for BRCA zygosity, 100% of germline BRCA1-mutated tumors (n = 144) and 98% of germline BRCA2-mutated tumors (n = 66) had bi-allelic loss of BRCA. One patient with a heterozygous BRCA2m had a GIS of 53, was progression free for 911 days and remained on olaparib at data cut-off.

Conclusions: Very high concordance was demonstrated between tumor and germline BRCA testing, supporting wider implementation of tumor BRCA testing in ovarian cancer. Near 100% rates of bi-allelic loss of BRCA in platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian tumors suggest routine testing for BRCA zygosity is not required in this population and reflects BRCA loss being a driver of tumorigenesis.

Keywords: LOH and marker studies; Mutation detection methods; Olaparib; Ovarian cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • BRCA2 Protein / blood
  • BRCA2 Protein / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / blood
  • Carcinoma, Endometrioid / genetics
  • Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / blood
  • Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / genetics
  • Female
  • Germ-Line Mutation*
  • Humans
  • Loss of Heterozygosity*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / blood
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / blood
  • Peritoneal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Phthalazines / therapeutic use
  • Piperazines / therapeutic use
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / blood
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • BRCA2 Protein
  • BRCA2 protein, human
  • Phthalazines
  • Piperazines
  • BRAP protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • olaparib