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Chen MF, Repetto M, Wilhelm C, Drilon A. RET Inhibitors in RET Fusion-Positive Lung Cancers: Past, Present, and Future. Drugs 2024:10.1007/s40265-024-02040-5. [PMID: 38997570 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-024-02040-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
While activating RET fusions are identified in various cancers, lung cancer represents the most common RET fusion-positive tumor. The clinical drug development of RET inhibitors in RET fusion-positive lung cancers naturally began after RET fusions were first identified in patient tumor samples in 2011, and thereafter paralleled drug development in RET fusion-positive thyroid cancers. Multikinase inhibitors were initially tested with limited efficacy and substantial toxicity. RET inhibitors were then designed with improved selectivity, central nervous system penetrance, and activity against RET fusions and most RET mutations, including resistance mutations. Owing their success to these rationally designed features, the first-generation selective RET tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) had higher response rates, more durable disease control, and an improved safety profile compared to the multikinase inhibitors. This led to lung and thyroid cancer, and later tumor-agnostic regulatory approvals. While next-generation RET TKIs were designed to abrogate uncommon on-target (e.g., solvent front mutation) resistance to selpercatinib and pralsetinib, many of these drugs lacked the selectivity of the first-generation TKIs, raising the question of what the future holds for drug development in RET-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica F Chen
- Thoracic Oncology, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Early Drug Development Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matteo Repetto
- Early Drug Development Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Clare Wilhelm
- Thoracic Oncology, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Early Drug Development Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Alexander Drilon
- Thoracic Oncology, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Early Drug Development Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Desilets A, Repetto M, Yang SR, Sherman EJ, Drilon A. RET-Altered Cancers-A Tumor-Agnostic Review of Biology, Diagnosis and Targeted Therapy Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4146. [PMID: 37627175 PMCID: PMC10452615 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
RET alterations, such as fusions or mutations, drive the growth of multiple tumor types. These alterations are found in canonical (lung and thyroid) and non-canonical (e.g., gastrointestinal, breast, gynecological, genitourinary, histiocytic) cancers. RET alterations are best identified via comprehensive next-generation sequencing, preferably with DNA and RNA interrogation for fusions. Targeted therapies for RET-dependent cancers have evolved from older multikinase inhibitors to selective inhibitors of RET such as selpercatinib and pralsetinib. Prospective basket trials and retrospective reports have demonstrated the activity of these drugs in a wide variety of RET-altered cancers, notably those with RET fusions. This paved the way for the first tumor-agnostic selective RET inhibitor US FDA approval in 2022. Acquired resistance to RET kinase inhibitors can take the form of acquired resistance mutations (e.g., RET G810X) or bypass alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Desilets
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (A.D.); (M.R.); (S.-R.Y.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Matteo Repetto
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (A.D.); (M.R.); (S.-R.Y.); (E.J.S.)
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Soo-Ryum Yang
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (A.D.); (M.R.); (S.-R.Y.); (E.J.S.)
| | - Eric J. Sherman
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (A.D.); (M.R.); (S.-R.Y.); (E.J.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alexander Drilon
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; (A.D.); (M.R.); (S.-R.Y.); (E.J.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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3
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Xiang C, Guo L, Zhao R, Teng H, Wang Y, Xiong L, Han Y. Identification and Validation of Noncanonical RET Fusions in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer through DNA and RNA Sequencing. J Mol Diagn 2022; 24:374-385. [PMID: 35063667 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmoldx.2021.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
RET fusion has emerged as a targetable driver in non-small-cell lung cancer. A comparative analysis on RET fusions at DNA [DNA sequencing (DNA-seq)] and RNA [RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)] levels was performed in this study. Archived tumor samples from 54 non-small-cell lung cancer patients with DNA-level noncanonical RET fusions were selected for RNA-seq. RNA-seq identified RET fusion transcripts in 41 of 44 samples passing quality control. In the subset of cases harboring RET 3'-end fusions and predicted to produce in-frame proteins (group A; n = 33), RNA-seq identified the same 3'-end fusions in 32 (96.9%). A total of 26 of 32 also had a reciprocal RET 5'-end fusion detected by DNA-seq that was not transcribed. In the subset with DNA-level out-of-frame RET fusions (group B; n = 9), RNA-seq identified in-frame RET fusion transcripts in 8 cases (88.9%). In the subset only identified with a RET 5'-end fusion by DNA-seq (group C; n = 2), RNA-seq detected the corresponding 3'-end fusion in one case. The discordant DNA- and RNA-level fusions observed in group B may be mediated by complex genomic rearrangement events and transcriptional or post-transcriptional processes. In conclusion, DNA-seq demonstrates a high concordance of 96.9% on detecting in-frame RET fusion, but shows a low concordance on detecting out-of-frame RET fusion and RET 5'-end fusion compared with RNA-seq.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chan Xiang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianying Guo
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiying Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haohua Teng
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yulu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Liwen Xiong
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yuchen Han
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
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Nacchio M, Pisapia P, Pepe F, Russo G, Vigliar E, Porcelli T, Luongo C, Iaccarino A, Pagni F, Salvatore D, Troncone G, Malapelle U, Bellevicine C. Predictive molecular pathology in metastatic thyroid cancer: the role of RET fusions. Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab 2022; 17:167-178. [PMID: 35404189 DOI: 10.1080/17446651.2022.2060819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rearranged during transfection (RET) gene fusions are detected in 10-20% of thyroid cancer patients. Recently, RET fusion-positive metastatic thyroid cancers have attracted much attention owing to the FDA approval of two highly selective anti-RET tyrosine kinase inhibitors, namely, selpercatinib, and pralsetinib. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes the available evidence on the biological and predictive role of RET gene fusions in thyroid carcinoma patients and the latest screening assays currently used to detect these genomic alterations in histological and cytological specimens. EXPERT OPINION Management of advanced thyroid carcinoma has significantly evolved over the last decade thanks to the approval of three multikinase inhibitors, i.e. sorafenib, lenvatinib, cabozantinib, and of two selective RET-tyrosine inhibitors, i.e. selpercatinib and pralsetinib. In this setting, the detection of RET-fusions in advanced thyroid cancer specimens through the use of next-generation sequencing has become a commonly used strategy in clinical practice to select the best treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariantonia Nacchio
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Pasquale Pisapia
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Pepe
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluca Russo
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elena Vigliar
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Tommaso Porcelli
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Cristina Luongo
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonino Iaccarino
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Fabio Pagni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, San Gerardo Hospital, University of Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - Domenico Salvatore
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Troncone
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Umberto Malapelle
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Claudio Bellevicine
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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Baker JA, Sireci AN, Marella N, Cannon HK, Marquart TJ, Holzer TR, Reising LO, Cook JD, Wijayawardana SR, Bodo J, Hsi ED, Schade AE, Oakley GJ. Analytical Accuracy of RET Fusion Detection by Break-Apart Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2021; 146:351-359. [PMID: 34232984 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2020-0376-oa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT.— RET gene fusions are oncogenic drivers in nonsmall cell lung cancer and nonmedullary thyroid cancer. Selpercatinib (RETEVMO), a targeted inhibitor of RET, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of RET fusion-positive nonsmall cell lung cancer and nonmedullary thyroid cancer emphasizing the need for rapid and accurate diagnosis of RET fusions. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) has been used to detect gene rearrangements, but its performance detecting RET rearrangements is understudied. OBJECTIVE.— To validate and describe the performance of Abbott Molecular RET break-apart FISH probes for detecting RET rearrangements. DESIGN.— A training set with RET fusion-positive (13) and RET fusion-negative nonsmall cell lung cancer and nonmedullary thyroid cancer samples (12) was used to establish criteria for FISH scoring. The scoring criteria was then applied to a larger validation set of samples (96). RESULTS.— A cutoff of 19% or more positive nuclei by FISH was established in the training set and determined by the mean ±3 SD. The validation set was tested using Abbott Molecular RET break-apart FISH compared with sequencing. With this cutoff, a sensitivity of 86% (12 of 14) and specificity of 99% (81 of 82) was achieved. Bootstrapping showed sensitivity could be optimized by using a greater than 13% cutoff with indeterminate samples of 13% to 18% abnormal nuclei requiring confirmation by an orthogonal method. Using this 3-tier scoring system sensitivity increased to 100% (14 of 14) and specificity was 96% (79 of 82). CONCLUSIONS.— Abbott Molecular break-apart FISH probes can be used to detect RET fusions. Laboratories can optimize cutoffs and/or testing algorithms to maximize sensitivity and specificity to ensure appropriate patients receive effective, timely therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Baker
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Anthony N Sireci
- Diagnostic Medical Affairs (Sireci, Marella, Marquart), Loxo Oncology at Lilly, Stamford, Connecticut
| | - Narasimha Marella
- Diagnostic Medical Affairs (Sireci, Marella, Marquart), Loxo Oncology at Lilly, Stamford, Connecticut
| | - Holly Kay Cannon
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Tyler J Marquart
- Diagnostic Medical Affairs (Sireci, Marella, Marquart), Loxo Oncology at Lilly, Stamford, Connecticut
| | - Timothy R Holzer
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Leslie O'Neill Reising
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Joel D Cook
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Sameera R Wijayawardana
- Global Statistical Sciences - Oncology (Wijayawardana), Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Juraj Bodo
- and the Department of Laboratory Medicine (Bodo, Hsi), Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Eric D Hsi
- and the Department of Laboratory Medicine (Bodo, Hsi), Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Andrew E Schade
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Gerard J Oakley
- From the Diagnostic and Experimental Pathology (Baker, Cannon, Holzer, Reising, Cook, Schade, Oakley III), Indianapolis, Indiana
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6
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Liu Y, Wu S, Zhou L, Guo Y, Zeng X. Pitfalls in RET Fusion Detection Using Break-Apart FISH Probes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:1129-1138. [PMID: 33382428 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgaa913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A standardized procedure of fused REarranged during Transfection (RET) gene detection using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) remains to be established in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Our purpose was to investigate false-negative and false-positive events and their FISH signal characteristics. METHODS A total of 111 PTC cases were analyzed using break-apart FISH probes for RET status evaluation. All FISH results were validated using fusion-induced asymmetric transcription assay (FIATA)-based reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR). Then, suspected RET-positive cases were tested using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR), followed by next-generation sequencing (NGS) for recognizing fusion variants. RESULTS Thirty RET+ cases were revealed, including 20 CCDC6 (exon 1)-RET (exon 12), 6 NCOA4 (exon 8)-RET (exon 12), 1 NCOA4 (exon 7)-RET (exon 12), 1 CCDC186 (exon 7)-RET (exon 12), 1 ERC1 (exon 12)-RET (exon 12) and 1 SPECC1L (exon 9)-RET (exon 12) tumors. All RET fusion cases occurred in the BRAF- population, with a prevalence of 41.7% (30/72). Four cases of 8% to 13% (cutoff was 7.6%) dominant isolated 3' green (IG) FISH signals were RET-. One FISH- case with isolated 5' red (IR) signals with 94% abnormal tumor cells was demonstrated to be positive, harboring the NCOA4 (exon 7)-RET (exon 12) variant. Compared with RET fusions characterized by dominant break-apart signals with 29% to 100% aberrant cells, RET + with dominant IG-signal patterns all showed more frequent FISH+ cells (84%-92%). RET+ PTC with a break-apart signal pattern was more frequently found in unifocal lesions than in multifocal/bilateral tumors (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS A false-positive or false-negative event may exist for RET status detection in PTCs using the traditional FISH scoring method with break-apart probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Liu
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shafei Wu
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liangrui Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Guo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuan Zeng
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Molecular Pathology Research Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Belli C, Penault-Llorca F, Ladanyi M, Normanno N, Scoazec JY, Lacroix L, Reis-Filho JS, Subbiah V, Gainor JF, Endris V, Repetto M, Drilon A, Scarpa A, André F, Douillard JY, Curigliano G. ESMO recommendations on the standard methods to detect RET fusions and mutations in daily practice and clinical research. Ann Oncol 2021; 32:337-350. [PMID: 33455880 DOI: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant activation of RET is a critical driver of growth and proliferation in diverse solid tumours. Multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) showing anti-RET activities have been tested in RET-altered tumours with variable results. The low target specificity with consequent increase in side-effects and off-target toxicities resulting in dose reduction and drug discontinuation are some of the major issues with MKIs. To overcome these issues, new selective RET inhibitors such as pralsetinib (BLU-667) and selpercatinib (LOXO-292) have been developed in clinical trials, with selpercatinib recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The results of these trials showed marked and durable antitumour activity and manageable toxicity profiles in patients with RET-altered tumours. The European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Translational Research and Precision Medicine Working Group (TR and PM WG) launched a collaborative project to review the available methods for the detection of RET gene alterations, their potential applications and strategies for the implementation of a rational approach for the detection of RET fusion genes and mutations in human malignancies. We present here recommendations for the routine clinical detection of targetable RET rearrangements and mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Belli
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - F Penault-Llorca
- University Clermont Auvergne, INSERM U1240, Centre Jean Perrin, Department of BioPathology, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - M Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - N Normanno
- Cell Biology and Biotherapy Unit, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale"-IRCCS, Naples, Italy
| | - J-Y Scoazec
- AMMICa, CNRS-UMS 3655 and INSERM-US23, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Department of Pathology and Translational Research, Gustave Roussy Cancer Centre, Villejuif, France
| | - L Lacroix
- Translational Research Laboratory and Biobank, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Inserm U981, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Department of Medical Biology and Pathology, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - J S Reis-Filho
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - V Subbiah
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - J F Gainor
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
| | - V Endris
- Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Repetto
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - A Drilon
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA; Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, USA
| | - A Scarpa
- ARC-Net Research Centre and Department of Diagnostics and Public Health - Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - F André
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Center, Villejuif, France
| | - J-Y Douillard
- Scientific and Medical Division, European Society for Medical Oncology, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - G Curigliano
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
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Yang SR, Aypar U, Rosen EY, Mata DA, Benayed R, Mullaney K, Jayakumaran G, Zhang Y, Frosina D, Drilon A, Ladanyi M, Jungbluth AA, Rekhtman N, Hechtman JF. A Performance Comparison of Commonly Used Assays to Detect RET Fusions. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:1316-1328. [PMID: 33272981 PMCID: PMC8285056 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-3208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Selpercatinib and pralsetinib induce deep and durable responses in patients with advanced RET fusion-positive lung and thyroid cancer. RET fusion testing strategies with rapid and reliable results are critical given recent FDA approval. Here, we assess various clinical assays in a large pan-cancer cohort. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Tumors underwent DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) with reflex to RNA-based NGS if no mitogenic driver or if a RET structural variant of unknown significance (SVUS) were present. Canonical DNA-level RET fusions and RNA-confirmed RET fusions were considered true fusions. Break-apart FISH and IHC performance were assessed in subgroups. RESULTS A total of 171 of 41,869 patients with DNA NGS harbored RET structural variants, including 139 canonical fusions and 32 SVUS. Twelve of 32 (37.5%) SVUS were transcribed into RNA-level fusions, resulting in 151 oncogenic RET fusions. The most common RET fusion-positive tumor types were lung (65.6%) and thyroid (23.2%). The most common partners were KIF5B (45%), CCDC6 (29.1%), and NCOA4 (13.3%). DNA NGS showed 100% (46/46) sensitivity and 99.6% (4,459/4,479) specificity. FISH showed 91.7% (44/48) sensitivity, with lower sensitivity for NCOA4-RET (66.7%, 8/12). A total of 87.5% (7/8) of RET SVUS negative for RNA-level fusions demonstrated rearrangement by FISH. The sensitivity of IHC varied by fusion partner: KIF5B sensitivity was highest (100%, 31/31), followed by CCDC6 (88.9%, 16/18) and NCOA4 (50%, 6/12). Specificity of RET IHC was 82% (73/89). CONCLUSIONS Although DNA sequencing has high sensitivity and specificity, RNA sequencing of RET SVUS is necessary. Both FISH and IHC demonstrated lower sensitivity for NCOA4-RET fusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo-Ryum Yang
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| | - Umut Aypar
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ezra Y Rosen
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Douglas A Mata
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Ryma Benayed
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Kerry Mullaney
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Gowtham Jayakumaran
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Yanming Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Denise Frosina
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Alexander Drilon
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Achim A Jungbluth
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Natasha Rekhtman
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Jaclyn F Hechtman
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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9
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Dias-Santagata D, Lennerz JK, Sadow PM, Frazier RP, Govinda Raju S, Henry D, Chung T, Kherani J, Rothenberg SM, Wirth LJ. Response to RET-Specific Therapy in RET Fusion-Positive Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma. Thyroid 2020; 30:1384-1389. [PMID: 32292131 PMCID: PMC7482117 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2019.0477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Background: Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat in the modern era. Most patients present with or develop recurrent/metastatic incurable disease with poor response rates to conventional chemotherapy, and life expectancy is short. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be leveraged in ATC to identify oncogenic alterations that can be targeted with molecularly specific therapy, offering new effective treatment options to a subset of patients. Patient Findings: A 73-year-old man presenting with locally advanced papillary thyroid carcinoma containing a minor component of ATC was treated with surgery and iodine-131. He developed biopsy-confirmed ATC distant metastases that progressed on cytotoxic chemotherapy. NGS revealed several alterations, including a CCDC6-RET gene fusion. The patient enrolled in LIBRETTO-001, a phase I/II trial of the potent and specific RET inhibitor, LOXO-292. The patient tolerated LOXO-292 well and experienced a deep and durable partial response, ongoing beyond 19 months. Conclusion: This clinically significant response achieved with LOXO-292 in a patient with a CCDC6-RET fusion-positive ATC who had exhausted conventional treatment options highlights the importance of conducting tumor genomic profiling in patients with ATC to identify uncommon but actionable genomic alterations, such as RET gene fusions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Dias-Santagata
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jochen K. Lennerz
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peter M. Sadow
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ryan P. Frazier
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Lori J. Wirth
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Address correspondence to: Lori J. Wirth, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Yawkey 7B, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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10
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Abstract
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) can be applied to diagnostic aspects of pathologic examination to provide aid in assignment of lineage and histologic type of cancer. Increasingly, however, IHC is widely used to provide prognostic and predictive (theranostic) information about the neoplastic disease. A refinement of theranostic application of IHC can be seen in the use of "genomic probing" where antibody staining results are directly correlated with an underlying genetic alteration in the tumor (somatic mutations) and/or the patient (germline constitution). All these aspects of IHC find their best use in guiding the oncologists in the optimal use of therapy for the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Semir Vranić
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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In vitro and in vivo anti-tumor activity of alectinib in tumor cells with NCOA4-RET. Oncotarget 2017; 8:73766-73773. [PMID: 29088743 PMCID: PMC5650298 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for approximately 1–2% of all NSCLCs. To date, RET fusions that involve at least six fusion partners in NSCLC, such as KIF5B, CCDC6, NCOA4, TRIM33, CLIP1, and ERC1, have been identified. Recent clinical trials for RET fusion-positive NSCLC using vandetanib or cabozantinib demonstrated positive clinical response and considerable differential activities for RET inhibitors among fusion partners. Alectinib, an approved ALK inhibitor, is reported to inhibit KIF5B-RET and CCDC6-RET. However, the activity of alectinib with respect to RET with other fusion partners is unknown. In the present study, we investigated the effects of alectinib on NCOA4-RET fusion-positive tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Alectinib inhibited the viability of NCOA4-RET-positive EHMES-10 cells, as well as CCDC6-RET-positive LC-2/ad and TPC-1 cells. This was achieved via inhibition of the phosphorylation of RET and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, alectinib suppressed the production of thoracic tumors and pleural effusions in an orthotopic intrathoracic inoculation model of EHMES-10 cells. In vivo imaging of an orthotopically inoculated EHMES-10 cell model also revealed that alectinib could rescue pleural carcinomatosis. These results suggest that alectinib may be a promising RET inhibitor against tumors positive for not only KIF5B-RET and CCDC6-RET, but also NCOA4-RET.
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12
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic G Barr
- a Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research , National Cancer Institute , Bethesda , MD , USA
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Colato C, Vicentini C, Cantara S, Pedron S, Brazzarola P, Marchetti I, Di Coscio G, Chilosi M, Brunelli M, Pacini F, Ferdeghini M. Break-apart interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in papillary thyroid carcinoma: on the road to optimizing the cut-off level for RET/PTC rearrangements. Eur J Endocrinol 2015; 172:571-82. [PMID: 25698220 DOI: 10.1530/eje-14-0930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chromosomal rearrangements of the RET proto-oncogene is one of the most common molecular events in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, their pathogenic role and clinical significance are still debated. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangement in a cohort of BRAF WT PTCs by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and to search a reliable cut-off level in order to distinguish clonal or non-clonal RET changes. DESIGN Forty BRAF WT PTCs were analyzed by FISH for RET rearrangements. As controls, six BRAFV600E mutated PTCs, 13 follicular adenomas (FA), and ten normal thyroid parenchyma were also analyzed. METHODS We performed FISH analysis on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using a commercially available RET break-apart probe. A cut-off level equivalent to 10.2% of aberrant cells was accepted as significant. To validate FISH results, we analyzed the study cohort by qRT-PCR. RESULTS Split RET signals above the cut-off level were observed in 25% (10/40) of PTCs, harboring a percentage of positive cells ranging from 12 to 50%, and in one spontaneous FA (1/13, 7.7%). Overall, the data obtained by FISH matched well with qRT-PCR results. Challenging findings were observed in five cases showing a frequency of rearrangement very close to the cut-off. CONCLUSIONS FISH approach represents a powerful tool to estimate the ratio between broken and non-broken RET tumor cells. Establishing a precise FISH cut-off may be useful in the interpretation of the presence of RET rearrangement, primarily when this strategy is used for cytological evaluation or for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Colato
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Caterina Vicentini
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Silvia Cantara
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Serena Pedron
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paolo Brazzarola
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Ivo Marchetti
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Di Coscio
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Chilosi
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Furio Pacini
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marco Ferdeghini
- Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy Department of Pathology and DiagnosticsARC-NET Research CentreUniversity of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale LA Scuro, 10, Piastra Odontoiatrica (II floor), 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Internal MedicineEndocrinology, and Metabolism and Biochemistry, University of Siena, Siena, ItalyDepartment of Surgery and OncologyUniversity of Verona, Verona, ItalyDivision of SurgicalMolecular and Ultrastructural, Section of Cytopathology, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa, ItalyNuclear Medicine UnitUniversity Hospital of Verona, Verona, Italy
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