Liver metastases of breast cancer are frequent and can recur even after “complete/R0” resection in combination with systemic and hormonal treatments. The aim of this study was to analyze throughout repeat hepatectomies for liver metastases the evolution of PI3KCA gene mutational status.
Methods
All liver metastases nodules (n = 70) from 19 women who underwent at least 2 liver resections were reexamined. DNA extraction from archived tumoral tissue was performed and the major ‘hot spot’ mutations in the helical and catalytic domains of PI3KCA have been analyzed using Massarray platform (Agena Bioscience) based on allelic discrimination PCR amplification followed by sensitive mass spectrometry detection.
Results
The two major somatic hot spot PI3KCA mutations were found in 27 (38.6%) nodules corresponding to 8 of the 19 patients (42%). The frequency of women whose breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM) carries PI3KCA mutations increased from the first to the third hepatectomy. Tumors carrying PI3KCA mutations are significantly larger and more frequently observed when resections were R0 compared to patients with no PI3KCA mutation.
Conclusion
PI3KCA mutations are frequently observed in BCLM and persist along with the recurrence. Their identification in circulating tumor cells should become a useful biomarker in the routine practice of breast cancer management to prevent tumor recurrence and overcome the problems of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity of the current biomarkers,
A significant proportion of breast cancer patients will eventually develop metastases (stage IV) with poor prognostic outcome [1‐3]. Distant metastatic sites were identified as the brain, liver, lungs, and bones. Once metastatic disease is diagnosed, treatment is generally palliative and usually consists of anthracycline- or taxane-based regimes with or without hormonal or targeted therapeutic agents. This widely implemented palliative approach has yielded median survival ranging between 3 to 16 months [2‐7]. For liver metastases, aggressive approaches adopted by experienced hepatobiliary centers, where systemic and hormonal treatments for metastatic breast cancer are combined with surgical removal, has shown promising results in improving patient survival [8‐12]. However, of the patients who undergo removal of breast cancer liver metastases, a portion still develops tumor recurrence in the liver.
Genomic profiling of tumor tissues has been increasingly used to understand and investigate the evolution of metastatic disease and alternative targets for breast cancer therapies [13, 14]. There are several studies describing genotype profiling of breast tumors. Frequently altered genes are ErbB2, PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase) pathways, TP53, BRCA1/2, and PTEN [15]. However, following common clinical practice there has few studies examining tumors beyond the usual point of first metastatic presentation or in recurrences after removal [16‐19]. PIK3CA mutations have been reported to be present in over one-third of cases, with enrichment in the luminal and in human HER2-positive subtypes [19]. In human tumors or mammary epithelial cell lines, the two most common mutant alleles (H1047R and E545K) were found to activate PI3K signaling and to be involved in tumorigenesis and resistance to chemotherapy [20‐23]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the chronology of major hotspot mutations in PI3KCA occurrence in a series of patients who underwent at least 2 liver resections for breast cancer liver metastases.
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Material and methods
As part of treatment patients with recurrent breast cancer liver metastases can undergo repeat liver resection. This study is a retrospective case series experiment.
Case selection
Study size was based on convenient sample of the experience of a hepatobiliary center. All consecutive patients with breast cancer liver metastases (BCLM) who underwent at least two separate liver resections at our center between January 1985 and December 2012 were included in the study (Fig. 1). Patients were selected from our prospectively maintained institutional database, and each medical record was reviewed to update basic clinical and pathological data.
Fig. 1
Flowchart of the study population
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Tissue samples
Representative tumor samples of all nodules within each patient were collected and reviewed to examine genetic abnormalities. Hematoxylin-eosin-stained slides from tumors were assessed for the ratio percentage of tumor cells/sample area (non-tumor tissue, stroma of the tumor) by pathologists at our department. Three sections of 10 μm thickness were obtained from the paraffin-embedded tissue containing at least 50% of tumor cells. Vascular or lymphatic invasion features were also analyzed. Immunohistochemistry analysis for hormonal receptors was conducted to analyze expression of hormonal receptors and HER2.
DNA extraction
DNA extraction was performed using the QIAmp DNA Mini kit (Qiagen, France), which provides silica-membrane-based nucleic acid purification [20].
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Mutations detection
PIK3CA and HER2 mutations was analysed using a Massarray iPlex technology panel and Massarray online design tools (Agena Bioscience). The panel includes main exons (9 and 20) PIK3CA mutations (all mutations from 542 to 545–546-1047 codon), exon 20 HER2 insertions (codons 774–776) and exon 2 to 4 KRAS. The Massarray iPlex procedure involves a three-step process consisting of the initial PCR reaction, inactivation of unincorporated nucleotides by shrimp alkaline phosphatase and a single-base primer extension. Then, the products are nano-dispensed onto a matrix-loaded silicon chip (SpectroChipII, Ageno Bioscience) and finally, the mutations are detected by MALDI–TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization–time of flight) mass spectrometry. Data analysis was performed using MassArrayTyper Analyzer software 4.0.4.20 (Agena Bioscience, Hamburg, Germany), which facilitates visualization of data patterns as well as the raw spectra. To allow detection of rare PIK3CA, HER2 or KRAS mutations, analysis of the whole exons was completed by High Resolution Melting analysis (HRM). PCR was performed in a 96-well plate with a 20 μL volume including 50 ng DNA, 2 mmol/L of each primer, 2.5 mmol/L of MgCl2, 4.7 μL of water, and 10 μL of LightCycler 480 HRM Master mix (Roche Diagnostics, France). The reaction mix was subjected to initial denaturation at 95 °C for 10 min, followed by 45 cycles of amplification consisting of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing at 58 °C for 30 s, and extension at 72 °C for 30 s. Melting was performed with a denaturation step at 95 °C for 1 min, followed by annealing at 40 °C for 1 min and a melt from 70 °C to 97 °C at a ramp rate of 0.03 °C/second with 18 acquisitions per second. LightCycler 480 Resolight Dye (Roche), a fluorescent dye that uniformly binds to the minor groove of double-stranded DNA in a nonsequence-dependent manner for melting analysis was used. In all experiments, positive and negative controls were included (Horizon diagnostics).
Clinical data
Hepatectomies were conducted in a tertiary center where data were available, extra information regarding the primary tumor was collected. Chronology of primary tumor, first liver metastasis, first hepatic resection, hepatic recurrences and repeat hepatectomies for each case were used for interval calculation.
Statistical methods
Categorical variables were compared between groups by the chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test when appropriate and continuous variables were compared using the independent-sample t-test. All statistical analyses were performed with SPSS version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
Results
Patient samples
Between 1985 and 2012, 139 female patients underwent partial liver resection for breast cancer liver metastases at our institution (Fig. 1). Sixty-seven women (48%) developed hepatic recurrence of which 19 patients (28%) had subsequent second liver resections with curative intent. Four of them had a third hepatectomy. A total of 86 breast cancer liver metastases nodules were removed. Sixteen nodules were not available for molecular analysis due to insufficient tumoral cell content or inability to amplify DNA. High Resolution Melting and allelic discrimination PCR amplification using Massarray analyses were performed on samples originating from 70 nodules.
Mutations discovered
Overall, the two major somatic hot spot mutations in the helical and catalytic domains of PI3KCA in the breast cancer liver metastases were found in 27 (38.6%) nodules corresponding to 8 of the 19 patients (42%) (Fig. 2). No mutation in HER2 (exon 20) or KRAS (exon 2 to 4) were detected both by the High Resolution Melting analysis and allelic discrimination.
Fig. 2
Mutation detected in corresponding nodule after hepatectomies
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Population characteristics
Table 1 summarizes clinical characteristics of the patient population stratified by their corresponding hepatectomy. Mean maximum size of tumors removed during first hepatectomy was significantly larger in patients with PI3KCA mutation compared to patients with no PI3KCA mutation 33 mm vs. 17 mm respectively p = 0.07. At the Second hepatectomy the proportion of patients treated with anti-HER2 targeted therapy is significantly higher in patients without PI3KCA compared to patients with PI3KCA mutation 82% vs. 17% respectively (p = 0.035). Timeline, anatomical location and extend of metastatic disease are highlighted for the presence of mutation and is presented in Table 2.
Table 1
Clinical characteristic according to PI3KCA mutation status
NN
First hepatectomy
Second hepatectomy
Third hepatectomy
No Mutation
Mutation
No Mutation
Mutation
No Mutation
Mutation
N = 8
N = 5
N = 11
N = 6
N = 2
N = 2
Hepatic metastases
Mean age at resection + SD Years
42 + 7
44 + 7
51 + 11
50 + 12
63 + 18
42 + 4
Mean interval between primary removal and liver resection + SD Months
42 + 20
47 + 37
43 + 21
46 + 33
28 + 9
22 + 9
Mean number of BCLM diagnosed + SD Distribution
2 + 2
2 + 2
2 + 2
2 + 1
Unilateral
5
50%
4
80%
9
82%
4
67%
1
50%
1
100%
Bilateral
5
50%
1
20%
2
18%
2
33%
1
50%
0
0%
Concomitant extra-hepatic disease
No
10
91%
4
80%
8
73%
4
67%
1
50%
1
100%
Yes
1
9%
1
20%
3
27%
2
33%
1
50%
0
0%
Chemotherapy before liver resection
No
2
18%
1
20%
0
0%
1
17%
0
0%
0
0%
Yes
9
82%
4
80%
11
100%
5
83%
2
100%
2
100%
Hormonal Therapy before liver resection
No
8
73%
2
40%
2
18%
2
33%
1
50%
0
0%
Yes
3
27%
3
60%
9
82%
4
67%
1
50%
2
100%
Targeted Therapy before liver resection
**
No
7
64%
4
80%
2
18%
5
83%
1
50%
2
100%
Yes
4
36%
1
20%
9
82%
1
17%
1
50%
0
0%
Histopathological characteristics
Mean maximum resected tumor size + SD, mm
17 + 15
33 + 15
*
21 + 16
26 + 12
19 + 8
23 + 11
Resection margin***
R0
8
89%
3
60%
8
80%
4
67%
0
0%
2
100%
R1
1
11%
2
40%
2
20%
2
33%
1
100%
0
0%
Microscopic intrahepatic invasion
No
6
60%
1
20%
7
64%
2
33%
–
0
0%
Yes
4
40%
4
80%
4
36%
4
67%
–
2
Cell surface receptors status
Estrogen
Negative
0
0%
2
40%
4
36%
2
33%
0
0%
1
50%
Positive
8
100%
3
60%
7
64%
4
67%
2
100%
1
50%
Progesterone
Negative
5
63%
4
80%
6
55%
2
33%
1
50%
1
50%
Positive
3
38%
1
20%
5
45%
4
67%
1
50%
1
50%
Her2/Neu
Negative
6
75%
4
80%
6
60%
4
67%
0
0%
2
100%
Positive
2
25%
1
20%
4
40%
2
33%
1
100%
0
0%
Differentiation
Well differentiated
0
0%
1
20%
1
14%
2
40%
1
50%
0
0%
Moderately differentiated
5
71%
4
80%
3
43%
2
40%
0
0%
1
50%
Poorly differentiated
2
29%
0
0%
3
43%
1
20%
1
50%
1
50%
* P < 0.1 ** P < 0.05 *** R0: complete surgical resection with a negative surgical margin at histopathology; R1: invaded surgical margins
Table 2
Clinical characteristics and presence of PI3KCA mutations
ID
Year Primary tumor
First hepatectomy
Second hepatectomy
Third hepatectomy
Survival since primary (months)
Margins
Interval (months)a
Intra hepatic Location
xhep
Margins
Interval (months)a
Intra hepatic Location
xhep
Margins
Interval (months)a
Intra hepatic Location
xhep
1
1989
R0
45
BI
No
–
53
BI
No
–
21
UL
No
140
2
1998
R1
65
UR
Yes
R0
40
UR
No
142
3
2002
–
22
UR
No
R0
57
UR
No
95
4
1984
–
65
No
R0
46
BI
No
195
5
1988
R0
27
UL
No
R1
26
UL
No
127
6
1998
R0
49
UR
No
R0
38
BI
Yes
112
7
1992
R0
46
UR
Yes
R0
28
UL
No
108
8
2005
R1
34
UR
No
R0
34
UR
Yes
93
9
1988
R0
30
UR
No
R1
34
UL
No
R1
34
BI
Yes
205
10
1993
R0
56
UL
No
R1
113
UL
Yes
182
11
2000
R0
34
UL
No
R1
36
UL
No
107
12
1998
R0
27
BI
No
R0
49
UL
No
120
13
1999
–
17
BI
No
R0
29
BI
Yes
72
14
1986
R0
82
UL
No
R0
40
UL
No
R0
28
UR
Yes
244
15
1999
–
62
No
R0
92
UL
Yes
157
16
1997
R0
60
UR
No
R0
44
UR
No
145
17
1992
R0
42
BI
No
R0
8
UR
No
75
18
2003
R1
10
BI
No
R0
32
BI
Yes
63
19
1990
R0
36
BI
No
R0
32
UR
No
R0
15
UR
No
93
aTo previous event, xhep extra hepatic metastases, BI Bilobular, UL Unilateral Left, UR Unilateral Right, PI3KCA mutated tumors
Chronological occurence of PI3KCA mutation
Four out of 5 patients with “Breast Liver Cancer Metastases” with PI3KCA mutations at the first hepatectomy, had the same mutation at the second hepatectomy. Three (16%) women had de novo PI3KCA in their tumors at the second or third hepatectomy. Four patients received a third hepatectomy of which 2 had PI3KCA mutations (one possible de novo and one recurrence). At the first, second and third hepatectomy, 38, 47 and 50% respectively of the patients for whom tumors were available had PI3KCA mutations (Fig. 2).
Of the 8 multinodular hepatectomies with PI3KCA mutation, the same mutation was found in all the nodules for 5 of them (62.5%). For the 3 remaining hepatectomies, the PI3KCA mutation was observed in 2 out of 3 nodules.
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Discussion
In our case series of patients who underwent repeat hepatectomies for breast cancer liver metastases, PIK3CA hotspot mutations were frequently observed in most of the nodules for multinodular tumors and persist along with the liver metastases recurrence. Their frequencies also increased along with hepatectomies. When examining the specific mutation H1047R or E545K, mutation remains the same within each patient over time.
The global frequency of PI3KCA mutations found in liver metastases in this series of patients is similar to those reported in sequencing studies in multiple cancers. PIK3CA mutations are present in approximately 30% of all breast cancers, with a higher frequency reported in oestrogene or progesterone positive tumors as well as in HER2–positive breast cancers [13‐19]. In our series, almost all tumors express either HER2 or a hormone receptor, explaining the high frequency of PI3KCA gene mutations.To our knowledge, there are no data reporting neither frequencies of PI3KCA mutations in breast cancer liver metastases nor a specific gene signature including PI3KCA mutations. In the molecular classification of Hennecke et al., liver metastasis was most frequent in HER-2-enriched variety and PI3KCA mutations have also been enriched in HER-2 breast cancers [4]. We can observe a tendency for more PI3KCA mutated nodules between the first and second hepatectomies for tumors expressing these receptors.
The increase in the mutation rate along with hepatectomies can be considered as a marker of clonal evolution in favor of the selection of a dominant clone. In our study, mutations of PI3KCA show such an increase after each hepatectomy and especially a generalization within nodules for multinodular tumors. This increase may be due to malfunctions of the mechanisms for maintaining the integrity of the genome or its exposure to mutagenic agents and thus sign the resistance to treatments. We observe the expansion of mutations within nodules and at each hepatectomy highlighting a potential role of PI3KCA mutations as a marker of treatment resistance and expansion of clones bearing the PI3KCA anomaly. However, since the increase in the frequency of mutations is inversely correlated with the HER2 status of primary tumors that guided targeted therapy, PI3KCA mutations do not appear to be involved in the resistance mechanism of anti-HER2 therapies.
Once the oncogenic mutation is acquired, it can become a driver excluding generally other oncogenic mutations. It can then impact the tumor microenvironment and grow by promoting tumor angiogenesis. This is what we observe in our study. Indeed, tumors with a PI3KCA mutation are larger and trend to be associated with more tumor invasion of microvessels. This probably makes the tumors more aggressive. Similarly, the increase rate of PI3KCA mutations in the women who underwent several hepactectomies for tumor relapse even when liver resections were complete is in favor of the emergence of the clones carrying resistance mutations.
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The persistence of PI3KCA mutations over time and despite one or two R0 hepatectomies, as well as the delay between 2 hepatectomies, mainly signify the presence of a reservoir of tumor cells in the form of dormant cells or stem cells [22]. These cells would preferentially carry the PI3K mutations conferring on them this property. They can also circulate in the bloodstream and be identified as prognostic and/or predictive markers to guide therapeutic decisions.
These findings raise more questions than answers. Common knowledge dictates that cancer progresses in steps [23, 24] and treatment strategies have been directed at the last step of “evolution”. The basis of systemic palliative treatment has been based on trial and error and our findings raise the question whether a better strategy might be to base our strategies on tumor lineage. In other words, tumor cells might have a common origin but might have taken different evolutionary paths during time. A proposition could be to surgically remove and analyze all tumors to identify inter tumor “lineage” variation which in turn would lead to multi-lineage treatment strategies with the ultimate goal to eradicate all malignant cells.
Dan Frumkin et al., developed a way of reconstructing cell lineage trees from genomic variability caused by somatic mutations. This method was applied to cancer and for the first time a lineage tree of neoplastic and adjacent normal cells was reconstructed [25]. Other studies have also come to similar findings when examining chemotherapies effect using radiolabeling and imaging studies. Both methods support the idea of multi-lineage and genetic heterogeneity of metastases disease [24, 26].
This relatively small series study has some inherit limitation. There is no statistical power to make a definitive statement about clinical significance of our findings however these findings have not been presented before and can become the basis for further studies on the tumor heterogeneity and changes overtime. As a specialized center, the primary tumor tissue is usually not available for genetic studies which is important to complete the picture and lineage link. Furthermore, women with breast cancer liver metastases, usually present years after primary tumor discovery which makes it challenging to obtain primary tumor tissue and perform these genetic mutation detections.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, PIK3CA mutations are frequently observed in breast cancer liver metastases and persist over time. The frequently observed mutations in PIK3CA that have been associated with resistance to chemotherapy, anti-HER2 or anti-estrogen therapies could be involved in the recurrence of liver metastases and might be a target in the future[27]. The identification of circulating tumor cells carrying PI3KCA should become a useful biomarker in the routine practice of breast cancer to prevent tumor recurrence but also to overcome the problems of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity, as well as temporal, of the current biomarkers, which are hormonal receptor or HER2 expression measurements whose evolutions are not re-evaluated during treatments or in all metastatic sites.
Acknowledgments
Not applicable
Funding
The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NOW). Grant number: 017.009.053.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethics approval and consent to participate
Ethics review is not required under French Law.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
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