Data from TAS-120 Overcomes Resistance to ATP-Competitive FGFR Inhibitors in Patients with FGFR2 Fusion–Positive Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

<div>Abstract<p>ATP-competitive fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) kinase inhibitors, including BGJ398 and Debio 1347, show antitumor activity in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) harboring activating <i>FGFR2</i> gene fusions. Unfortunately, acquired resistance develops and is often associated with the emergence of secondary <i>FGFR2</i> kinase domain mutations. Here, we report that the irreversible pan-FGFR inhibitor TAS-120 demonstrated efficacy in 4 patients with <i>FGFR</i>2 fusion–positive ICC who developed resistance to BGJ398 or Debio 1347. Examination of serial biopsies, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), and patient-derived ICC cells revealed that TAS-120 was active against multiple FGFR2 mutations conferring resistance to BGJ398 or Debio 1347. Functional assessment and modeling the clonal outgrowth of individual resistance mutations from polyclonal cell pools mirrored the resistance profiles observed clinically for each inhibitor. Our findings suggest that strategic sequencing of FGFR inhibitors, guided by serial biopsy and ctDNA analysis, may prolong the duration of benefit from FGFR inhibition in patients with <i>FGFR2</i> fusion–positive ICC.</p>Significance:<p>ATP-competitive FGFR inhibitors (BGJ398, Debio 1347) show efficacy in <i>FGFR2</i>-altered ICC; however, acquired <i>FGFR2</i> kinase domain mutations cause drug resistance and tumor progression. We demonstrate that the irreversible FGFR inhibitor TAS-120 provides clinical benefit in patients with resistance to BGJ398 or Debio 1347 and overcomes several FGFR2 mutations in ICC models.</p><p><i>This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 983</i></p></div>