Effects of Tumor Mutational Burden and Gene Alterations Associated with Radiation Response on Outcomes of Postoperative Radiation Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) in resected non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) improves locoregional outcomes, but recent randomized data do not support its unselected use. We assessed if tumor mutational burden (TMB) and mutations in genes associated with radiation sensitivity can select patients for PORT.

Methods and materials: Patients with resected NSCLC treated with and without PORT who underwent tumor genomic profiling were examined. The incidence of locoregional failures (LRFs) in patients with deleterious mutations in DNA damage response and repair (DDR) genes and genes associated with radiation resistance (KEAP1/NFE2L2/STK11/PIK3CA) were investigated. Cox modeling and receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis assessed the relationship between TMB and locoregional control (LRC).

Results: Eighty-nine patients with NSCLC treated with PORT were analyzed, with a 2-year LRF rate of 19% (95% confidence interval, 10%-27%). Among patients treated with PORT, those with mutations in radiation resistance genes (n = 16 [18%]) had significantly more LRFs than patients without mutations (2-year LRF rate: 60% vs 11%; P < .001). On multivariate analysis, radiation-resistance mutations were associated with LRF after PORT (hazard ratio, 7.42; P < .001). Patients with mutations identified in DDR genes (n = 15 [17%]) had significantly improved LRC (P = .048) and no LRF events after PORT. On multivariate analysis, a higher TMB was associated with improved LRC after PORT (hazard ratio, 0.86; P = .01), and TMB was associated with PORT outcomes (area under ROC curve, 0.67-0.77). These genomic markers were not similarly associated with LRF in patients not treated with PORT.

Conclusions: The data suggest that patients with radiation-resistance gene alterations may derive minimal benefit from PORT, whereas patients with high TMB and/or alterations in DDR genes may benefit from PORT and be suited for future precision-RT strategies. Prospective studies are necessary to validate these findings.