Landscape of acquired resistance to osimertinib in EGFR-mutant NSCLC and clinical validation of combined EGFR and RET inhibition with osimertinib and BLU-667 for acquired RET fusion. [Research Briefs]

We present a cohort of 41 patients with osimertinib resistance biopsies, including two with an acquired CCDC6-RET fusion. While RET fusions have been identified in resistant EGFR-mutant NSCLC, their role in acquired resistance to EGFR inhibitors is not well described. To assess the biological implications of RET fusions in an EGFR-mutant cancer, we expressed CCDC6-RET in PC9 (EGFR del19) and MGH134 (EGFR L858R/T790M) cells and found that CCDC6-RET was sufficient to confer resistance to EGFR-TKIs. The selective RET inhibitors BLU-667 or cabozantinib resensitized CCDC6-RET-expressing cells to EGFR inhibition. Finally, we treated two patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and RET-mediated resistance with osimertinib and BLU-667. The combination was well-tolerated and led to rapid radiographic response in both patients. This study provides proof-of-concept that RET fusions can mediate acquired resistance to EGFR TKIs and that combined EGFR and RET inhibition with osimertinib/BLU-667 may be a well-tolerated and effective treatment strategy for such patients.

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