Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing in Succinate Dehydrogenase-Deficient GI Stromal Tumor Identifies Actionable Alterations in the PI3K/mTOR Pathway.

Purpose: Less than 5% of GI stromal tumors (GISTs) are driven by the loss of the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) complex, resulting in a pervasive DNA hypermethylation pattern that leads to unique clinical features. Advanced SDH-deficient GISTs are usually treated with the same therapies targeting KIT and PDGFRA receptors as those used in metastatic GIST. However, these treatments display less activity in the absence of alternative therapeutic options. Therefore, it is critical to identify novel actionable alterations in SDH-deficient GIST.

Patients and methods: We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of patients with SDH-deficient GIST together with next-generation sequencing (NGS) analysis from their respective tumor samples to identify mutations and copy number alterations and chromosomal alterations. NGS-tailored treatment was implemented whenever possible.

Results: Seventeen tumor samples from 14 patients with SDH-deficient GIST underwent NGS. Mutational load was low, although three patients (21%) displayed molecular events in relapse samples leading to PI3K/mTOR pathway hyperactivation. mTOR inhibition with everolimus obtained a sustained tumor response in a heavily pretreated patient. Other alterations, largely present in late-stage patients, uncovered genes involved in cell cycle regulation, telomere maintenance, and DNA damage repair. Chromosomal arm-level alterations differed from the canonical cytogenetic progression in KIT/PDGFRA-mutant GIST.

Conclusion: This molecular landscape of SDH-deficient GIST uncovers novel molecular alterations, mostly in relapse and/or previously pretreated patients. The identification of genetic events leading to PI3K/mTOR dysregulation together with the remarkable activity of everolimus in one patient showcases the clinical relevance of this pathway, validates the utility of NGS in this population, and poses everolimus as a novel therapeutic alternative. Several other alterations were found at the genetic and genomic levels, underscoring novel biological processes likely involved during tumor evolution.