Clinical response to a lapatinib-based therapy for a Li-Fraumeni syndrome patient with a novel HER2V659E mutation

Abstract

Genomic characterization of recurrent breast and lung tumors developed over the course of 10 years in a 29-year-old patient with a germline TP53 mutation (Li-Fraumeni Syndrome) identified oncogenic alterations in the HER2 and EGFR genes across all tumors, including HER2 amplifications, an EGFR-exon 20 insertion, and the first-in-humans HER2V659E mutation showing a phenotypic convergent evolution toward HER2 and EGFR alterations. Following the identification of HER2-activating events in the most recent lung carcinoma and in circulating tumor cells, we treated the reminiscent metastatic lesions with a lapatinib-based therapy. A symptomatic and radiologic clinical response was achieved. HER2V659E sensitivity to lapatinib was confirmed in the laboratory.

Significance: The precise knowledge of the genomic alterations present in tumors is critical to selecting the optimal treatment for each patient. Here, we report the molecular characterization and clinical response to a lapatinib-based therapy for the tumors of a Li-Fraumeni patient showing prevalence of HER2 and EGFR genomic alterations.