HRD status variation in consecutive tumour biopsies in a pan-cancer cohort: a descriptive single-center study including patients from the Phase 1 Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet

BACKGROUND: Limited data on the evolution of homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) status within the course of disease increases the risk of inaccuracies in deciding on Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor therapy and questions the necessity for confirmatory biopsies in clinical trials. This study aims to assess HRD status over time and its role as a dynamic biomarker.

METHODS: Genomic tumour profiles obtained from cancer patients in a Phase 1 Unit were retrospectively analysed. Patients with >1 tumour tissue sample and available genomic tumour profiles were included. HRD scores were assessed according to the method described by Telli et al. (2016).

RESULTS: A total of 108 patients were included across 24 cancer diagnoses. A potential therapy-altering shift in HRD status was observed in 17 patients: 12 went from negative to positive HRD status whilst 5 went from positive to negative.

DISCUSSION: When testing for HRD, sensitivity to normal tissue in tumour samples has proven more consequential than previously expected. Based on our findings, HRD status rarely changes over time, and changes in HRD scores may not reflect a genuine biological shift. Therefore, patients considered for clinical trials based on historic HRD status may not need confirmatory biopsies after intervening treatment, thereby sparing patients from unnecessary procedures.