FGFR1 amplifications are common in squamous cell carcinoma and rare in adenocarcinoma of the lung, but have not been investigated in brain metastases of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Ponatinib treatment of established NSCLC cell lines expressing higher levels of FGFR1 resulted in marked cell growth inhibition and suppression of clonogenicity.
Among NSCLC there was no significant correlation between FGFR1-positive status and other clinicopathological features including age, gender, smoking history, tumour size, lymph node status, stage, grade, vascular, lymphatic or perineural invasion.
This study provides novel epidemiologic data through identification of FGFR1 gene amplification in Chinese NSCLC specimens (particularly squamous) and, importantly, extends the clinical significance of this finding by using multiple FGFR1-amplified squamous lung cancer PDTX models to show tumor stasis or regression effects using a specific FGFR inhibitor (AZD4547).
These studies show that FGFR1 amplification is common in squamous cell lung cancer, and that FGFR1 may represent a promising therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer.
It is noteworthy that FGF2 and FGF9 as well as FGFR1 IIIc and/or FGFR2 IIIc mRNA and protein are frequently coexpressed in NSCLC cell lines, especially those that are insensitive to gefitinib.
Archived tissue from NSCLC (adenocarcinoma and SCC; n = 321) and adjacent bronchial epithelial specimens (n = 426) were analyzed for the immunohistochemical expression of bFGF, FGFR1, and FGFR2, and the findings were correlated with clinicopathologic features of the patients.