Genomic Evolution of Breast Cancer Metastasis and Relapse

Summary

Patterns of genomic evolution between primary and metastatic breast cancer have not been studied in large numbers, despite patients with metastatic breast cancer having dismal survival. We sequenced whole genomes or a panel of 365 genes on 299 samples from 170 patients with locally relapsed or metastatic breast cancer. Several lines of analysis indicate that clones seeding metastasis or relapse disseminate late from primary tumors, but continue to acquire mutations, mostly accessing the same mutational processes active in the primary tumor. Most distant metastases acquired driver mutations not seen in the primary tumor, drawing from a wider repertoire of cancer genes than early drivers. These include a number of clinically actionable alterations and mutations inactivating SWI-SNF and JAK2-STAT3 pathways.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

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  Metastases mostly disseminate late from primary breast tumors, keeping most drivers

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  Drivers at relapse sample from a wider range of cancer genes than in primary tumors

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  Mutations in SWI-SNF complex and inactivated JAK-STAT signaling enriched at relapse

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  Mutational processes similar in primary and relapse; radiotherapy can damage genome

Abstract

By sequencing primary, locally relapsed, and metastatic breast cancers, Yates et al. show that clones seeding metastasis or relapse disseminate late from primary tumors but continue to acquire mutations, including clinically actionable alterations and mutations inactivating the SWI/SNF and JAK2-STAT3 pathways.