Role of YES1 amplification in EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer: Primary resistance to afatinib in a patient

Abstract

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients benefit from EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), while some patients demonstrate a resistance to EGFR-TKIs. In the case reported here, the NSCLC patient harboring an EGFR-sensitive mutation and YES1 amplification was treated with afatinib as first-line therapy, but was found to have progressive disease four weeks later. During subsequent chemotherapy, this patient's disease progressed rapidly. Mechanisms of primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs remain unclear. This case suggested that YES1 amplification might be associated with primary resistance to EGFR-TKIs and YES1 amplification might be a negative predictor of EGFR-TKI treatment in NSCLC patients harboring EGFR sensitive mutations.

Keywords: Afatinib; EGFR; NSCLC; YES1; primary resistance.