Somatic profile in lung cancers is associated to reproductive factors in never-smokers women: Results from the IFCT-1002 BioCAST study

Background. - Lung cancer in women is on the rise, with a higher proportion occurring in lifelong never-smokers. Lung cancer in never-smokers (LCINS) exhibits a high frequency of driver oncogene alterations. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether exposure to reproductive factors in women with LCINS may modulate the molecular pattern. Methods. - All newly diagnosed LCINSs were included in a prospective, observational study (IFCT-1002 BioCAST). Each patient responded to a questionnaire including reproductive factors. Biomarker test results were also collected. Results. - Two hundred and sixty women were included in this analysis, and 166 alterations were characterized. EGFR mutation frequency proved greater among patients with late menarche (74% in age > 14 vs. 40% and 41% for 12-14 and <= 12 years, respectively; P = 0.020) and tended to decrease with increasingly late age at menopause. In multivariate analysis, EGFR mutation frequency increased by 23% per increment of 1 year of age at menarche (P = 0.048), and by 9% for each year at age at first birth (P = 0.035). ALK alteration frequency was greater in women with high parity (50% in >= 5 vs. 12% and 7% for 1-4 and nulliparity, respectively; P = 0.021). Conclusion. - In a cohort of women LCINSs, female hormonal factors appear to impact molecular pattern.