Description:
<jats:p> 731 </jats:p><jats:p> Background: Biomarker analyses have shown that patients (pts) with RAS wild-type (WT) mCRC can achieve overall survival (OS) benefits with first-line pmab plus chemotherapy. Other biomarkers may exist that could optimize pt selection. Epidermal growth factor receptor ligand (eg AREG) levels have been correlated with OS during anti-EGFR therapy. Here we investigate the relationship between AREG expression and treatment outcome in a single-arm first-line mCRC study of pmab + FOLFIRI. Methods: Qualified reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were used to measure AREG RNA expression in archival formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tumor samples from mCRC pts in two pmab trials (STEPP and 314). The STEPP analysis was used to establish a cut-off point in AREG expression that identified the best responders. This cut-off was applied prospectively to samples previously analyzed for KRAS in the 314 trial. Using the KRASMT subgroup as a non-responding comparator, Cox proportional hazards (PH) models were used to evaluate AREG expression levels as a continuous covariate. Decision curves were used to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) hazard ratio (HR) with increasing levels of baseline AREG expression. Results: In the 314 trial 100 pts had evaluable AREG levels. Among 50 KRAS WT pts, high AREG expression was associated with objective response (OR) (Table). The high AREG group had better PFS HRs (KRAS WT/KRAS MT: 0.30 [95% CI, 0.12–0.75]) compared with the low AREG group (PFS HR 0.49 [95% CI 0.21–1.1]). There was a significant biomarker-by-AREG expression interaction in the Cox PH model (p=0.03). Conclusions: Treatment decision curves based on the PH model suggest that most KRAS WT patients express AREG at levels where treatment benefit is predicted. Future analysis of samples from a RASWT population may provide further insights. Clinical trial information: NCT00508404. [Table: see text] </jats:p>