Evaluation of ctDNA in patients treated with lutetium-177-PSMA-617.

Abstract

243 Background: Lutetium-177- PSMA-617 (Lu-177) is a radioligand therapy that delivers radiation to PSMA-expressing cells in patients with advanced prostate cancer. In this study, we aimed to analyze ctDNA in responders and non-responders after Lu-177 treatments. Methods: Data was retrospectively collected on 31 heavily pre-treated metastatic CRPC patients who received Lu-177 treatment at Tulane Cancer Center. All patients fulfilled VISION criteria for treatment and all had ctDNA assessment with Guardant 360 within 30 days prior to first treatment with Lu-177. Of the 31 patients, 7 had paired ctDNA assessment both prior initiation of treatment and at the end of treatment. Clinical data such as PSA response (PSA decline 50% or more) to Lu-177, initial diagnosis, pathology, treatment history, and relevant germline genetic data were collected. Results: Of the 31 patients who received Lu-177 treatment, 18 had PSA response to Lu-177 (responders) and 13 did not (non-responders). In ctDNA mutational analyses, there were no significant differences detected prior to treatment between responders and non-responders. There was, however, a significant increase in the presence of copy number amplifications in non-responders (n= 11/13) when compared to responders (n= 7/18) (OR= 8.64, 95% C.I. [1.46, 51.25)], p = 0.0250). Amplification was detected in 10 genes in non-responders, whereas responders only had amplifications in AR (7/18) and EGFR (1/18). The most frequently amplified genes in non-responders were AR (8/13), CCNE1 (6/13), EGFR (4/13), and FGFR1 (4/13). Furthermore, in analysis of the 7 patients with paired ctDNA assessments, amplifications increased during treatment with Lu-177. Conclusions: Radioligand therapy with Lu-177 has been shown to prolong life and reduce disease progression. Our analysis of the cohort of Lu-177 treated patients showed that the presence of gene amplifications in ctDNA may play a role in predicting resistance to treatment with Lu-177.