Allele-specific activation, enzyme kinetics, and inhibitor sensitivities of EGFR exon 19 deletion mutations in lung cancer

Abstract

Oncogenic mutations within the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are found in 15-30% of all non-small cell lung carcinomas. The term exon 19 deletion (ex19del) is collectively used to refer to more than 20 distinct genomic alterations within exon 19 that comprise the most common EGFR mutation subtype in lung cancer. Despite this heterogeneity, clinical treatment decisions are made irrespective of which EGFR ex19del variant is present within the tumor, and there is a paucity of information regarding how individual ex19del variants influence protein structure and function. Herein, we identify allele-specific functional differences among ex19del variants attributable to recurring sequence and structure motifs. We build all-atom structural models of 60 ex19del variants identified in patients and combine ~400 s of molecular dynamics simulations with biochemical and biophysical experiments to analyze three ex19del mutations (E746_A750, E746_S752>V, and L747_A750>P). We demonstrate that sequence variation in ex19del alters oncogenic cell growth, dimerization propensity, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) sensitivity. We show that in contrast to E746_A750 and E746_S752>V, the L747_A750>P variant forms highly active ligand-independent dimers. E746_S752>V displays the least TKI sensitivity among the variants tested, which enzyme kinetic analysis and TKI inhibition experiments suggest is due to increased ATP Km relative to the common E746_A750 variant. Through these analyses, we propose an expanded framework for interpreting ex19del variants and new considerations for therapeutic intervention. SignificanceEGFR mutations are detected in approximately 30% of all lung adenocarcinomas, and the most common EGFR mutation occurring in ~50% of patients is termed "exon 19 deletion" (ex19del). Despite the existence of dozens of different genomic variants comprising what is generically referred to clinically as ex19del, clinicians currently do not distinguish between ex19del variants in considering treatment options, and the differences between ex19del variants are largely unstudied in the broader scientific community. Herein, we describe functional differences between distinct EGFR ex19del variants attributable to the structural features of each variant. These findings suggest a possible explanation for observed differences in patient outcomes stratified by ex19del subtype and reinforce the need for allele-specific considerations in clinical treatment decision making.