Clinical, Pathologic, and Biologic Features Associated with BRAF Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Purpose BRAF mutations are found in a subset of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). We examined the clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with NSCLC harboring BRAF mutations. Experimental Design Using DNA sequencing, we successfully screened 883 NSCLC patients for BRAF mutations between 7/1/09 and 7/16/12. Baseline characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between patients with and without BRAF mutations. Wild type controls consisted of NSCLC patients without a somatic alteration in BRAF, KRAS, EGFR, and ALK. In vitro studies assessed the biological properties of selected non-V600E BRAF mutations identified from NSCLC patients. Results Of 883 tumors screened, 36 (4%) harbored BRAF mutations (V600E: 18; non-V600E: 18) and 257 were wild type for BRAF, EGFR, KRAS, and ALK negative. Twenty-nine of the 36 BRAF mutant patients were smokers. There were no distinguishing clinical features between BRAF mutant and wild type patients. Advanced NSCLC patients with BRAF mutations and wild type tumors showed similar response rates and progression-free survival (PFS) to platinum-based combination chemotherapy and no difference in overall survival. Within the BRAF cohort, patients with V600E mutated tumors had a shorter PFS to platinum-based chemotherapy compared to those with non-V600E mutations, although this did not reach statistical significance (4.1 versus 8.9 months; P=0.297). We identified five BRAF mutations not previously reported in NSCLC; two of the five were associated with increased BRAF kinase activity. Conclusions BRAF mutations occur in 4% of NSCLCs and half are non-V600E. Prospective trials are ongoing to validate BRAF as a therapeutic target in NSCLC