Tumor Microenvironment Modulation by Neoadjuvant Erlotinib Therapy and Its Clinical Impact on Operable EGFR-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

• Published in: Cancer research and treatment 2024-01, Vol.56 (1), p.70-80
• Main Authors: Ahn, Beung-Chul, Park, Charny, Kim, Moon Soo, Lee, Jong Mog, Choi, Jin Ho, Kim, Hyae Young, Lee, Geon Kook, Yu, Namhee, Lee, Youngjoo, Han, Ji-Youn
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1598-2998; 2005-9256
• DOI: 10.4143/crt.2023.482

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors have greatly improved survival in EGFR-mutant (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, their effects on the tumor microenvironment (TME) are unknown. We assessed the changes induced by neoadjuvant erlotinib therapy (NE) in the TME of operable EGFRm NSCLC. This was a single-arm phase II trial for neoadjuvant/adjuvant erlotinib therapy in patients with stage II/IIIA EGFRm NSCLC (EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutations). Patients received up to 2 cycles of NE (150 mg/day) for 4 weeks, followed by surgery and adjuvant erlotinib or vinorelbine plus cisplatin therapy depending on observed NE response. TME changes were assessed based on gene expression analysis and mutation profiling. A total of 26 patients were enrolled; the median age was 61, 69% were female, 88% were stage IIIA, and 62% had L858R mutation. Among 25 patients who received NE, the objective response rate was 72% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52.4 to 85.7). The median disease-free and overall survival (OS) were 17.9 (95% CI, 10.5 to 25.4) and 84.7 months (95% CI, 49.7 to 119.8), respectively. Gene set enrichment analysis in resected tissues revealed upregulation of interleukin, complement, cytokine, transforming growth factor β, and hedgehog pathways. Patients with upregulated pathogen defense, interleukins, and T-cell function pathways at baseline exhibited partial response to NE and longer OS. Patients with upregulated cell cycle pathways at baseline exhibited stable/progressive disease after NE and shorter OS. NE modulated the TME in EGFRm NSCLC. Upregulation of immune-related pathways was associated with better outcomes.