Background

For years, germline testing for hereditary cancer syndromes was completed largely to provide guidance for future surveillance and provided little to no clinical utility for those already affected with pancreatic cancer. Developments in our understanding of pancreatic cancer pathology opened additional applications for genetic results. Individualized approaches for pancreatic adenocarcinoma receive keen attention as survival rates are among the poorest, with 5-year survival around 8% [1]. Germline and somatic results can influence management recommendations and possibly general prognosis as well.

Treatment alterations can be considered if a cancer shows mismatch repair (MMR) or DNA damage repair (DDR) deficiency [2,3,4,5]. Individuals with a DDR-related cancer can include those with a pathogenic, germline or somatic BRCA1/2 variant and other genes within the homologous recombination and Fanconi anemia pathways. This population appears to have better outcomes compared to the general pancreatic cancer population. Median all stage overall pancreatic cancer survival has been reported as 14 months for those with a pathogenic BRCA1/2 variant [6]. For reference, those with metastatic pancreatic cancer generally have an estimated median survival below 6 months [7, 8]. Following clear margin removal of a pancreatic tumor, median survival time increases to around 23 months [8, 9]. Prognosis between those with a BRCA1/2-related pancreatic cancer and those with an apparently sporadic cancer may be more similar if both tumors are resectable [10].

DDR-related pancreatic tumors also appear to have a better response to platinum- based regimens and/or PARP inhibitors [2, 6, 11]. Stage 3 or 4 pancreatic cancer survival increased from 9 to 22 months for those with a BRCA1/2 mutation (P = 0.039) if a platinum-based chemotherapy was introduced into their care [6]. Another study reported median time of survival of 11 months in the BRCA1/2- population (95% CI, 1.5–12) and 23.3 months in BRCA1/2+ group (95% CI, 3.8–30.2) with cisplatin, gemcitabine and veliparib [2]. Others found median survival was 46.6 months for those with a pathogenic BRCA1/2 or PALB2 variant following platinum exposure compared to 23.3 for those without a variant detected [12].

Methods

This clinical review was approved by the Mayo Clinic Florida Institutional Review Board (ID:18–006620). The clinical histories of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and a germline pathogenic variant in a hereditary cancer gene were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were identified by the Mayo Clinic Florida Clinical Genomics Department and the Division of Oncology between 2016 and 2018. These patients had not only imaging to confirm their pancreatic cancer diagnoses, but also pathology analysis confirming adenocarcinoma. Patients had been referred to the Clinical Genomics Department due to personal history, family history, and/or a somatic genetic test result suggestive of a hereditary cancer syndrome in accordance with the standard of care for genetic testing at the time. Patients underwent germline genetic testing through various CAP accredited/ CLIA certified commercial genetic testing companies.

Results

Eleven patients with pancreatic cancer were found to carry a hereditary cancer risk. The average age of pancreatic cancer diagnosis of this population was 60.3 years (SD = 15.9). All patients were Caucasian, aside from Patient 11 who was African American. Patient 5 reported possible Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry. Five patients had prior history of cancer [Table 1]. Patients 3, 4, and 11 had a breast cancer diagnosis prior to age 50. Patients 2–6, 8, 9, and 11 had at least 1 first degree relative with pancreatic, breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, and 6 of those patients had at least 2 of those diagnoses in first degree relatives. In most cases, it was not possible to determine whether the variants had been maternally or paternally inherited. Pathogenic variants detected were within BRCA1 [2], ATM [3], BRCA2 [4], PALB2 [1] and FANCC [1]. Three individuals had variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) reported. Patient 11 had a VUS in PMS2, and Patient 5 had 1 in POLE. Patient 3 had a VUS in RAD50, RAD51C, and SDHB. While some variants had initially been detected through a somatic focused test, all were confirmed to be present in the germline DNA.

Table 1 Clinical History of Patients with a DDR- related Pancreatic Cancer
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Four tumors were initially localized, 3 locally advanced, and 4 metastatic. At time of diagnosis, 5 of the tumors discovered were resectable, and 2 were deemed resectable only following chemotherapy. Survival for patients initially diagnosed with either metastatic or advanced disease that had died at the time of clinical review measured 13.7, 20.5, 22.3, 23.5, 25.8, and 111.5 months (Fig. 1). All patients with advanced disease had exposure to platinum chemotherapy. Patient 4 had the longest treatment period. Initially, she presented as locally advanced and later had recurrence/metastatic disease for which she received systemic therapy with multiple lines. She passed from fatal pneumonitis secondary to immunotherapy.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Timeline of survival following diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

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Discussion

Patients with DDR-related pancreatic cancer had significantly improved survival in our cohort. This contrasts sharply with historical landmark studies of pancreatic cancer where survival ranges between of 6–11 months [13]. Response duration was also significantly longer compared to what has been reported, likely secondary to increased sensitivity to DNA-damaging drugs. The increased survival is comparable to previous research on DDR-related pancreatic cancer cohorts [2, 12].

Patient 11 was the only individual in this population to pass away before the general population median survival time for a similarly staged tumor. Unfortunately, at the time of her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, she had other significant co-morbidities, including end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis. At the time of her passing, there was no evidence of cancer recurrence on MRI or CT.

Estimates vary, but around 5–15% of all patients with pancreatic cancer have a detectable pathogenic DDR-related gene variant, and around 5% have a BRCA1/2 variant specifically [14,15,16]. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends BRCA1/2 analysis for all diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma [17]. The significant, potential impact for the patient and their family has led to this approval.

Even with potential, personal benefit, cost can still be a prohibitive factor. Patient 2 had not been able to complete germline testing initially due to high personal cost despite young diagnosis and family history of pancreatic, prostate, and uterine cancer in first degree relatives. Results of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing and an additional testing platform that reported somatic/ germline status confirmed his germline BRCA1 variant.

It is less well studied whether other DDR-related gene variants would respond to platinum based chemotherapies and/or PARP-inhibitors in same way as BRCA1/2. BRCA1/2 and PALB2 are known to be associated with an increased risk for pancreatic cancer [18,19,20,21]. Evidence supports that risk for pancreatic cancer may be elevated as well in those with a pathogenic ATM variant [22], and BRCA1 is a downstream target of the ATM gene [23]. FANCC is less well characterized and associated with lower penetrance for hereditary cancer risk [17]; limited research suggests an association with pancreatic cancer [24, 25]. The FANCC gene is a DDR-related gene in the Fanconi anemia pathway [26]. Decisions regarding chemotherapy should be weighed and discussed on an individual basis preferably in a molecular tumor board setting. Further research should include these other DDR-related cohorts to explore if they derive similar benefit. It is also important to note that most experts would suggest that cisplatin may be superior as compared to other platinum drugs. Furthermore, irinotecan, which is part of FOLFIRINOX combination chemotherapy, is a DNA-damaging drug (topoisomerase inhibitor). Therefore, the benefit derived in patients who are exposed to FOLFIRINOX is likely from both the irinotecan and the platinum part of the combination chemotherapy.

The relatively small sample size, large number of resectable tumors, and the retrospective, single-institutional nature of this study with selection bias are all limitations.

Conclusions

Our study corroborates previous studies and expands the literature with inclusion of non-BRCA1/2 genes. This case series does suggest that patients with pancreatic cancer due to DDR-related genes may have better overall outcomes than the general population with pancreatic cancer. Their response to platinum based or other DNA-damaging chemotherapies may be the driving factor. Similar results are being reported from pooled large cohorts from other major academic centers. With universal germline testing now endorsed for pancreatic cancer, data regarding DDR-related pancreatic cancer will significantly increase. For the time being, with platinum-based therapies already approved for these patients, if there is a choice, it would be reasonable to choose a DNA-damaging based therapy and/or participation in some of the PARP-inhibitor trials.