Alteration of the E-cadherin/β-catenin complex predicts poor response to epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation alone may be insufficient to predict clinical outcomes in the response to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. The secondary mutation T790 M and MET amplification are mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI in approximately 50 % of patients, but the remaining mechanisms are unknown.
METHODS: Eight metastatic lesions and specimens from 41 non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients harbouring activating EGFR mutations who underwent surgical resection and EGFR-TKI therapy were available. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate E-cadherin, β-catenin, and PTEN. Chromogenic in situ hybridisation and silver-enhanced in situ hybridisation were used to evaluate EGFR and MET amplification.
RESULTS: Patients with E-cadherin/β-catenin alteration showed a poor objective response rate (ORR) (p = 0.005) and shorter overall survival (p = 0.059). Additionally, β-catenin alteration was associated with a poor ORR (p = 0.012). Of the metastatic tumours, three cases (37.5 %) showed the acquisition of altered E-cadherin/β-catenin and PTEN loss and two cases (25 %) demonstrated MET/EGFR amplification.
CONCLUSIONS: Altered E-cadherin/β-catenin expression in NSCLC harbouring EGFR mutations was associated with a poor response to EGFR-TKI. During metastatic progression, changes in E-cadherin/β-catenin were found. These results may suggest that E-cadherin/β-catenin alteration is related to poor TKI response and resistance.