BRAF K601E-mutated metastatic colorectal cancer in response to combination therapy with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND

BRAF mutation has been recognized as a negative prognostic marker for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but these data are from common BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC. Combination therapy of BRAF inhibitor and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody has been approved for BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC. However, BRAF non-V600 mutations are rare mutations, and their clinical behavior is not understood. Moreover, the BRAF K601E mutation is extremely rare in mCRC, and there have been no reports on its specific treatment.

CASE SUMMARY

Herein, we report the case of a 59-year-old female with super aggressive mCRC with multiple metastases, which extended to whole body including mediastinal to abdominal lymph nodes, bones, pleura, and peritoneum. The companion diagnostics of tumor tissues showed RAS/BRAF wild-type without microsatellite instability. She received chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin plus infusional 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] and leucovorin) plus panitumumab, following FOLFIRI (irinotecan plus infusional 5-FU and leucovorin) plus ramucirumab. For the next regimen selection, a comprehensive genomic profiling panel was performed and revealed a BRAF K601E mutation, which was not covered in the initial companion diagnostics. After disease progression, a combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab was selected as third-line chemotherapy. The serum levels of tumor markers were immediately decreased accompanied by improvements in pleural effusion and ascites. However, the disease progressed again, and best supportive care was done instead.

CONCLUSION

This case offers novel insights into the clinical behaviors of BRAF non-V600E-mCRC, potentially advancing personalized therapy for rare and aggressive cases.

Key Words: BRAF K601E mutation; Metastatic colorectal cancer; Encorafenib; Binimetinib; Cetuximab; Case report

Core Tip: With the development and standardization of next-generation sequencing, it is anticipated that there will be increased discovery of previously unidentified genetic mutations. BRAF non-V600 mutations including the K601E mutation are rare, and the clinical behavior is not understood. In this case, a comprehensive genomic profiling panel revealed a BRAF K601E mutation, which was not covered in the initial companion diagnostics. A combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab had great effects. It is important to consider the possibility of discovering rare mutations, which could expand treatment options.

INTRODUCTION

Among the different types of cancer worldwide, colorectal cancer (CRC) has the third highest incidence and the second highest mortality[1], with approximately 20% of patient having metastases at the time of diagnosis and up to 50% presenting with initially localized disease and eventually developing metastases during treatment[2]. Fortunately, new systemic therapies and biomarker-based selection, particularly RAS and BRAF testing, have improved the prognosis of metastatic CRC (mCRC)[3]. RAS mutational status is predictive of the efficacy of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies. On the other hand, BRAF mutations are rare driver oncogenes seen in 5%-21% of patients with mCRC[2,3], and are considered a negative prognostic marker for mCRC patients. BRAF encodes a serine and threonine protein kinase that promotes cell survival and proliferation via the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Many BRAF mutation alleles have been identified, with the most common mutation being BRAF V600E. Regarding its treatment, a combination of encorafenib (BRAF inhibitor), binimetinib (MEK inhibitor), and cetuximab (anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody) was found to have significantly longer overall survival and a higher response rate than standard chemotherapy in patients with BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC[4]. Thus, the combination of encorafenib and cetuximab has been approved as a standard treatment for mCRC with BRAF V600E mutation worldwide, whereas the triple combination of encorafenib, cetuximab, and binimetinib has been approved in Japan. Meanwhile, less common BRAF non-V600E mutations may also have clinical relevance, as there is preliminary evidence of sensitivity to targeted therapies; however, there are very limited published data compared to the more common BRAF V600E mutations. Among them, the BRAF K601E mutation is extremely rare in mCRC[5], and its clinical significance remains unknown, with no reports on its specific treatment.

Herein, we describe a rare case of BRAF K601E-mutated mCRC, which responded to combination therapy with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab. Other possible therapeutic options are also discussed.

CASE PRESENTATION

Chief complaints

A 59-year-old Japanese female sought consult for a 1-mo history of right-sided abdominal pain.

History of present illness

She was referred to our clinic by her family doctor. Computed tomography (CT) revealed wall thickness of the sigmoid colon, swelling of multiple lymph nodes, and spinal osteolytic tumors. The bone metastasis was advanced and extended into the spinal canal, compressing and draining the spinal cord, but with no clinically evident paralysis. Serum tumor markers, including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9), were markedly elevated. The colonoscopy performed before chemotherapy revealed advanced sigmoid colon cancer, and pathological tissue specimens contained differentiated adenocarcinoma (Figure 1). The companion diagnostics of tumor tissues showed RAS/BRAF wild-type without microsatellite instability. The clinical stage was cT3N3M1 based on the tumor-node-metastasis classification of malignant tumors, 8^th edition. After radiotherapy (3 Gy × 10 Fr) for pain control and prevention of neurological disorders of bone metastases, we initiated first-line chemotherapy with mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin plus infusional 5-fluorouracil [5-FU] and leucovorin) plus panitumumab. The metastatic lymph nodes were markedly smaller, but regrew after 14 cycles of chemotherapy. Therefore, the treatment was switched to FOLFIRI (irinotecan plus infusional 5-FU and leucovorin) plus ramucirumab as second-line chemotherapy. However, the patient experienced vision loss after three cycles. CT scan revealed sphenoid bone metastasis with optic nerve compression. Radiotherapy (3 Gy × 12 Fr) was undertaken for neuroprotection of bone metastases.

Figure 1 Imaging findings before treatment. A: Colonoscopy image of sigmoid colon; B: Magnetic resonance image of mediastinal lymph nodes and spinal bone; C and D: Computed tomographic image of mediastinal lymph nodes and sigmoid colon.

History of past illness

Her past medical history was unremarkable.

Personal and family history

Her father died of pancreatic cancer.

Physical examination

On physical examination, the vital signs were as follows: body temperature, 37.3 °C; blood pressure, 124/84 mmHg; heart rate, 70 beats per min; respiratory rate, 19 breaths per min.

Laboratory examinations

Serum tumor markers, including CEA and CA 19-9, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were markedly elevated (CEA 1375.9 ng/mL, CA19-9 2672.5 U/mL, and LDH 688 U/L).

Imaging examinations

CT scan revealed hyperprogressive pleural effusion and ascites, suggesting failure on second-line chemotherapy.

Further diagnostic work-up

A comprehensive genomic profiling panel, FoundationOne^® CDx (Foundation Medicine, Inc., San Diego, CA, United States), was used to explore the clinically relevant biomarkers and genomic alterations to transfer approved targeted therapies and clinical trial options. The tumor tissue sample before chemotherapy was also used for the genomic panel, which was same as the initial companion diagnostics. Molecular analysis with the genomic panel revealed the BRAF K601E mutation, which was not covered in the initial companion diagnostics.

FINAL DIAGNOSIS

BRAF K601E-mutated CRC with systemic metastasis including bone metastasis.

TREATMENT

A combination of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab was selected as third-line chemotherapy.

OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP

The serum levels of CEA, CA 19-9, and LDH were immediately decreased after third-line treatment (CEA 285.5 ng/mL, CA19-9 556.1 U/mL, and LDH 491 U/L), accompanied by improvement in pleural effusion and ascites (Figure 2). After 2 mo, the disease progressed again, and best supportive care was selected. The patient died 1 mo after discontinuing medical treatment.

Figure 2 Response to combination therapy with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab. Computed tomography images before and after treatment with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab. The graph shows fluctuation of serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA; normal range: 0-5 ng/mL), carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9; normal range: 0-37 U/mL) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; normal range: 124-222 U/L).

DISCUSSION

BRAF mutations have been reported in up to 60% of melanoma cases and in 40%-70% of thyroid carcinomas[6]. Most mutations are observed in BRAF V600, but next-generation sequencing (NGS), including gene panel testing, has revealed the presence of BRAF non-V600 mutations.

CRC is a heterogeneous disease with subtypes characterized by genetic alterations. BRAF mutations are seen in 5%-21% of patients with mCRC[4], the majority of which are V600E substitution. Conversely, BRAF mutations occurring outside codon 600 are identified in 1.6%-5.1% of patients with mCRC[7-10]. Currently, there are no treatment recommendations for BRAF non-V600E-mutated CRC. A previous multicenter study showed that BRAF non-V600 mutations occurred in approximately 2.2% (208/9643) of patients with verified mCRC, whereas the BRAF K601E mutation occurred in 0.09% (9/9643) as determined using NGS databases.

BRAF mutations are classified into three types according to the kinase activity of the mutant BRAF protein[11]. In class I, the kinase activity of the BRAF V600 mutant protein is approximately 500 times higher than that of wild-type BRAF, and the monomeric mutant BRAF directly activates downstream signals. In class II, the BRAF mutant forms a dimer with wild-type BRAF and activates downstream signaling. Meanwhile, class III mutant BRAF has reduced kinase activity, but forms dimers with wild-type BRAF or CRAF and activates downstream signaling through receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-RAS activation of the dimers. The BRAF K601E mutation is categorized as a class II BRAF mutation. Class II mutants exhibit impaired RTK and RAS signaling by negative feedback, but signal as dimers with BRAF and/or CRAF to activate mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling[11]. K601E-mutated BRAF is activated as a dimer, which interferes with the binding ability of BRAF inhibitors. Thus, MEK inhibitors can be useful in cancer patients with the BRAF K601E mutation (Figure 3). For example, binimetinib is a MEK inhibitor that works by blocking MEK molecules in the MEK signaling pathway that mediates cell growth and survival.

Figure 3 Schema of class II BRAF mutation and action of encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab. This schema was created with BioRender.com.

BRAF mutations also occur in thyroid, colorectal, and lung cancers, albeit less frequently than in melanomas[12]. Advancements have been made in BRAF-targeting therapies for melanomas, and BRAF and MEK inhibitors have been approved as standard therapies. Because BRAF inhibitor monotherapy is effective in BRAF V600E-mutated melanoma patients, treatment may be given without MEK inhibitors depending on the patient’s condition. On the other hand, in BRAF V600E-mutated mCRC patients, combination therapy including encorafenib and cetuximab with or without binimetinib is the standard because BRAF inhibitor monotherapy has not shown a sufficient response in previous clinical trials[4,13]. Notably, a previous case report of BRAF K601E-mutated melanoma demonstrated the efficacy of BRAF inhibitor monotherapy, but the differences between CRC and melanoma need to be considered[14].

In a multicenter study in the United States, the BRAF non-V600-mutated mCRC group was characterized by younger patients, fewer females, fewer high-grade tumors, right-sided primary tumors, and longer overall survival than the BRAF V600-mutated group[5]. In contrast, a report from Japan showed that patients with non-BRAF V600-mutated mCRC had a low response rate and poor progression-free survival[15]. Race may play a role in these differences, but another plausible reason is that the various types of BRAF non-V600E mutations can have different characteristics depending on the location and subtypes of the mutation.

In the present case, anti-EGFR combination therapy with FOLFOX plus panitumumab showed a dramatic tumor reduction as the first-line chemotherapy, but this may be due to the effect of FOLFOX. This first-line chemotherapy regimen has a progression-free survival of 7 mo because of its aggressiveness. Nevertheless, this result is still a valuable finding since the response of non-BRAF V600-mutated mCRC to anti-EGFR antibody was previously unclear.

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to demonstrate the effectiveness of combination therapy with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab in BRAF K601E-mutated mCRC. This regimen was effective as third-line chemotherapy, as evidenced by the marked improvement in pleural effusion. However, the response duration was quite short, which could be attributed to the high tumor burden in our case. Since future advancements in NGS, including gene panel testing, allow for the detection of more mCRC patients with BRAF non-V600E mutations, further studies into its treatment options are expected.

CONCLUSION

We report a very rare case of BRAF K601E-mutated mCRC that responded to targeted combination therapy with encorafenib, binimetinib, and cetuximab. This case report provides novel insights into the clinical behaviors of BRAF non-V600E-mutated CRC. The further accumulation of similar cases will hopefully lead to the development of personalized therapy for this rare and aggressive disease.