Structurally Oriented Classification of FOXA1 Alterations Identifies Prostate Cancers with Opposing Clinical Outcomes and Distinct Molecular and Immunologic Subtypes.

Purpose: Around 10% to 15% of prostate cancers harbor recurrent aberrations in the Forkhead Box A1 gene, FOXA1, whereby the alteration type and the effect on the forkhead (FKH) domain affect protein function. We developed a FOXA1 classification system to inform clinical management.

Experimental design: A total of 5,014 prostate cancer samples were examined using whole-exome and -transcriptome sequencing from the Caris Life Sciences database. We denoted class 1 FOXA1 alterations as missense and in-frame insertions/deletions with subclasses oriented with respect to the FKH domain. These were in the first part of the FKH domain [class 1A: amino acids (AA) 168-246], within the Wing2 region of FKH (class 1B: AA 247-269), or outside FKH (class 1C: AA 1-167, 270+). Two hotspot missense mutations at R219 were denoted class 2. Class 3 included predicted truncating mutations with subclasses partitioned based on the FKH domain (class 3A: AA 1-269 and class 3B: AA 270+). Class 4 represented FOXA1 amplifications. Real-world overall survival and therapy outcomes were determined from insurance claims.

Results: FOXA1 alterations did not influence survival when considered in aggregate but had distinct prognostic effects when stratified by class. In primary prostate samples, class 1A alterations were associated with overall improved survival (HR, 0.57; P = 0.03); a similar trend was seen in metastatic biopsies with class 1B (HR, 0.84; P = 0.09). Conversely, in primary specimens, class 1C exhibited worse survival upon second-generation androgen receptor signaling inhibitor treatment (HR, 1.93; P < 0.001). Class 2 mutations (R219C/S) were enriched in neuroendocrine prostate cancers and were associated with overall poor survival (HR, 2.05; P < 0.001) and worse outcomes to first-line androgen-deprivation therapies (HR, 2.5; P < 0.001). Class 3A alterations indicated improved survival (HR, 0.70; P = 0.01), whereas class 3B alterations portended poor outcomes (HR, 1.50; P < 0.001). Amplifications (class 4) indicated poor outcomes in metastatic samples (HR, 1.48; P = 0.02). Molecularly, different FOXA1 alteration classes harbored distinct mutational and immunologic features as well as unique transcriptional programs. Finally, relative to European Americans, African Americans had increased class 1C alterations, whereas Asian/Pacific Islander patients had increased class 1B alterations.

Conclusions: FOXA1 alterations should not be interpreted in aggregate, as different classes are associated with divergent molecular features and clinical outcomes. Our revised classification schema facilitates clinical decision-making for patients with prostate cancer and uncovers important racial differences.