Somatic STK11 and concomitant STK11/KRAS mutational frequency in stage IV lung adenocarcinoma adrenal metastases

J Thorac Oncol. 2015 Mar;10(3):531-4. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0000000000000391.

Abstract

Somatic serine/threonine kinase 11 (STK11) also known as liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is a tumor suppressor gene and ranks as the third most frequently mutated gene in lung adenocarcinoma. However, current molecular testing guidelines recommend evaluating for epidermal growth factor receptor mutations and ALK fusions to guide therapy in all patients with advanced stage adenocarcinoma, regardless of gender, race, or smoking history. Identifying alternative "driver" mutations and using actionable targeted pharmacotherapy is a key approach to providing effective individualized medical care. The analytical sensitivity and parallel multigene approach of targeted next-generation sequencing is an attractive methodology for use for cytology specimens. The presented lung adenocarcinoma study revealed that STK11 mutations alone and concomitant KRAS/STK11 mutations were identified in 18.2% and 4.5% of solitary adrenal metastases, respectively. Molecular profiling of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistant tumors may help to identify patients who would most benefit from alternative single or dual pathway inhibition potentially leading to a revision in current molecular testing guidelines.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / mortality
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Prognosis
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) / genetics*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • KRAS protein, human
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • STK11 protein, human
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)