ER mutation

The APIS ESR1 Mutations Kit demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity as a qualitative qPCR assay for detecting ESR1 mutations in varying WT backgrounds. Its performance with the SensID ESR1 Reference Set 1% AF cfDNA validated the kit's LoD at ≤1% MAF with external samples. The APIS kit is a valuable tool for assessing ESR1 mutations in both clinical and research settings, offering a more accessible alternative to traditional next-generation sequencing (NGS) and dPCR assays.

P3, N=400, Not yet recruiting, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center

No abstract available

Taken together, these data indicate that ESR1 mutations confer chemoresistance through activation of the JNK/MDR1 axis. These finding suggest a novel treatment option for BC tumors expressing ESR1 mutations.

Estrogen receptor one (ESR1) gene mutations, driving resistance to aromatase inhibitors (AIs), may guide the use of fulvestrant or emerging oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) like elacestrant. Targeting mutations like breast cancer gene 1 and 2 (BRCA 1/2) with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors or the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway provides therapeutic options. The advent of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) like trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and novel agents targeting Trophoblast cell surface antigen-2 (Trop-2) introduces further complexity, underscoring the need for early intervention targeting specific genomic alterations in metastatic BC.

In the liquid biopsies, we detected ESR1 mutations in 42 cases (25.9%) and ERBB2 mutations in six cases (3.7%), arguing for a change in therapy to fulvestrant, elacestrant, or neratinib. Furthermore, 17 cases had detectable TP53 mutations, associated with resistance against endocrine therapy. We conclude that liquid biopsy testing is a noninvasive, sensitive, and helpful method to optimize therapeutic decisions in metastatic BC.

The developed novel multi-marker liquid bead array assay for the simultaneous detection of PIK3CA and ESR1 hotspot mutations in single CTCs is highly specific, highly sensitive, high-throughput, and sample-, cost-, and time-saving. This multi-marker liquid bead array assay can be extended to detect up to 100 mutations in many genes at once and can be applied for bulk CTC and ctDNA analysis.

This review highlights recent efforts in drug development of next generation ER-targeted agents, including oral selective ER degraders (SERDs), proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) ER degraders, other innovative molecules such as complete estrogen receptor antagonists (CERANs) and selective estrogen receptor covalent antagonists (SERCAs). The drug design, efficacy and clinical trials for each compound were detailed.

P3, N=312, Active, not recruiting, AstraZeneca | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting

P=N/A, N=70, Recruiting, AstraZeneca | Trial completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025 | Trial primary completion date: Dec 2024 --> Dec 2025

Furthermore, we highlighted that the ER mutations could potentially predict clinical outcomes of immunotherapy. Our computational and clinical assessment underscore the utility of MERIN for elucidating the functional relevance of ER mutations in cancer immune response, potentially aiding patients' stratification for immunotherapy.

This analysis identified acquired gene alterations in patients with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer treated with ribociclib plus ET or placebo plus ET. These data may support further studies on acquired resistance mechanisms and inform future systemic interventions in the post-CDK4/6 inhibitor setting.

Oral SERDs constitute an exciting new drug class. Ongoing and future research will further refine the role of these drugs next to standard endocrine treatments and targeted therapies.

No such effect was observed for ESR1 mutations, with a rate ratio of 1.15 (confidence interval 0.67-1.95). We conclude that ER loss and ESR1 mutation together account for 30% of the resistance to endocrine therapy.

More recently, oral SERDs have been tested in patients with early hormone receptor positive breast cancer, although their impact on survival and in this curative setting compared to standard endocrine therapy still needs to be elucidated. The best timing and duration of SERD administration and specific biomarkers in (neo)adjuvant setting remain largely unknown.

Imlunestrant, as monotherapy or in combination with targeted therapy, had a manageable safety profile with evidence of preliminary antitumor activity in ER+/HER2- ABC.

Molecular profiling allowed the identification of ESR1Y537S, in an aggressive prolactinoma. ESR1Y537S was not detected early in the course of the disease and is likely conferring tumor aggressiveness. This finding emphasizes the significance of estrogen receptor signaling in prolactinomas. It also allowed the use of targeted therapy with successful control of disease progression.

P1/2, N=49, Active, not recruiting, Carrick Therapeutics Limited | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting

The primary endpoint is distant metastasis free survival and secondary endpoints are invasive disease-free survival, relapse-free survival, overall survival, safety and quality of life. Recruitment started in December 2023 in Belgium and is planned to open in 11 more countries in 2024: Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

The APIS ESR1 Mutations Kit showcased highly specific and sensitive detection of both the mutations present in the SensID ESR1 Reference Set 1% AF cfDNA and wildtype ESR1 from highly fragmented FFPE-derived DNA. Here, the kit’s LoD was affirmed at ≤1% MAF for cfDNA-based sample types and compatibility for detecting ESR1 mutations was demonstrated with both cfDNA and FFPEderived DNA samples.

P=N/A, N=70, Not yet recruiting, AstraZeneca

No abstract available

Camizestrant is a next-generation oral SERD and pure ER antagonist with a tolerable safety profile. The pharmacokinetics profile supports once-daily dosing, with evidence of pharmacodynamic and clinical efficacy in heavily pre-treated patients, regardless of ESR1m. This study established 75, 150 and 300 mg QD doses for Phase 2 testing (SERENA-2, NCT04214288 and SERENA-3, NCT04588298).

Elacestrant, a second-line ER degrader, increases overall free-survival in patients with resistant breast cancer and ESR1Y537S...Abstracts presented at a news conference are embargoed until the date and time of the news conference. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.

P3, N=240, Not yet recruiting, MedSIR

Until 2023, fulvestrant was the only approved SERD; fulvestrant is administered intramuscularly, and in some cases may also have limited efficacy in the setting of certain ESR1 mutations. Elacestrant's recent approval sheds light on the use of biomarkers such as ESR1 to gauge a tumor's endocrine sensitivity. Ongoing therapeutic and correlative biomarker studies will offer new insight and expanding treatment options for patients with advanced breast cancer.

P2, N=100, Active, not recruiting, Sermonix Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Trial completion date: Feb 2024 --> Dec 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Feb 2024 --> Dec 2024

Additionally, protein expression and phosphorylation patterns, while under different regulation, still recapitulated the estrogen-independent phenotype of ER mutant cells. Our study is the first proteome-centric characterization of ESR1 mutant models, out of which we confirm estrogen independence of ER mutants and reveal the enrichment of immune signaling pathways at the proteomic level.

Although the acelERA BC study did not reach statistical significance for its primary INV-PFS end point, there was a consistent treatment effect with giredestrant across most key subgroups and a trend toward favorable benefit among patients with ESR1-mutated tumors. Giredestrant was well tolerated, with a safety profile comparable to PCET and consistent with known endocrine therapy risks. Overall, these data support the continued investigation of giredestrant in other studies.

Multi-omics data from the phase IIa patients (n = 24 tumor/17 blood biopsy exomes; n = 27 tumor transcriptomes) showed potential mechanisms of resistance (convergent evolution of HER2 activation, BRAFV600E), identified joint genomic/transcriptomic resistance features (ESR1 mutations, high estrogen receptor pathway activity, and a Luminal A/B subtype; ERBB2/BRAF mutations, high RTK/MAPK pathway activity, and a HER2-E subtype), and provided hypothesis-generating results suggesting that mTOR pathway activation correlates with response to the trial's therapy. Our results illustrate how genome and transcriptome sequencing may help better identify patients likely to respond to CDK4/6i therapies.

Patients with ESR1m acquired on AI may retain treatment response if switched to selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) like fulvestrant... xF Monitor is a ctDNA assay that tracks changes in quantitative ctDNA TF and simultaneously monitors for the emergence of ESR1m, providing a diagnostic that identifies resistance to AI therapy and enables early switch to therapies that could improve outcomes in a patient population with poor prognosis. A larger prospective clinical study is needed to validate these findings.

Mutations in ESR1 and in PI3K pathway genes at T0 were associated with worse prognosis in palbociclib-treated patients. We describe the emergence of newly acquired mutations in palbociclib-treated patients, which might potentially affect subsequent treatment.

Tumors with PIK3CA mutation found in either tumor and/or plasma are candidates for PI3K inhibitor (eg. Alpelisib) by applying PCR based method- or sequencing...Another recent phase lll trial randomizing patients to switch to fulvestrant + CDK4/6i from aromatase inhibitor + CDK4/6i at time of plasma ESR1 mutation positive or stay on AI + CDK4/6i, reported longer progression survival for early switch to fulvestrant...AKT inhibitor (eg.Capivasertib) has recently been approved for patients with PI3K/AKT/PTEN pathway alteration including PTEN loss, AKT activating mutation and the renown PI3KCA mutations...While liquid biopsy technology holds promise for both advanced and early breast cancers for its ability to potentially identify patients and guide decisions, it is crucial to select appropriate method for each clinical setting and purposes. With limited number of studies investigating the relevant correlation/comparison between each methods and pipelines, clinicians should bear in mind to deeply understand each methodology selected for each clinical trials before bringing them into real patients.

Our data provide a comprehensive characterization of the behaviors and mechanisms of ESR1 mutant liver metastasis, paving the way for the development of personalized therapy to target liver metastasis for patients with ESR1 mutant breast cancer.

In conclusion, our work uncovers opportunities for further treatment personalization and stresses the need for effective combination treatments to address the altered tumor genomic landscape following AI+CDK4/6i exposure. Further, we demonstrated the potential of RWD for refining patient treatment strategy and guiding clinical trial design.

Cancer panel testing for cfDNA identified prognostic and predictive biomarkers for palbociclib add-on therapy after acquiring fulvestrant resistance in patients with HR+/HER2- ABC/MBC.

The approval of elacestrant in ER+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer was restricted to patients with ESR1 mutations. Benefit-risk assessment in the ESR1-mut subgroup was favorable on the basis of a statistically significant improvement in PFS in the context of an acceptable safety profile including no evidence of a potential detriment in OS. By contrast, the benefit-risk assessment in patients without ESR1 mutations was not favorable. Elacestrant is the first oral estrogen receptor antagonist to receive FDA approval for patients with ESR1 mutations.

P2, N=29, Active, not recruiting, Sermonix Pharmaceuticals Inc. | Trial completion date: Jan 2024 --> May 2024 | Trial primary completion date: Jan 2024 --> May 2024

According to the findings of this meta-analysis, the assessment for plasma ESR1 mutations may provide prognostic and clinical guidance regarding subsequent endocrine therapy decisions for ER-positive, metastatic BC patients who had received prior therapy with AIs.

We then show the presence of human T cells reactive to ESR1mut epitopes in an ER+ BC patient. These findings support the development of ESR1mut vaccines, which we are testing in a Phase I clinical trial.

The first-generation selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) fulvestrant has shown some activity against ESR1 mutant tumors...Several oral SERDs are now in phase III trials for early and advanced ER+ breast cancer. This review summarizes the background of oral SERD development, the current status, and future perspectives.

Ultimately, we identified five peptides derived from the three most common ESR1 mutations (D538G, Y537S, and E380Q) and their associated wild-type peptides, which were the most immunogenic. Overall, these data confirm the immunogenicity of epitopes derived from ESR1 and highlight the potential of these peptides to be targeted by novel immunotherapy strategies.