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Wu J, Mo H, An Z, Tang Z, Deng X, Zhou H, Gong Y, Zheng C, Zhuo L, Tan S. Discovery of 7-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,6-naphthyridine derivatives as potent inhibitors of rearranged during transfection (RET) and RET solvent-front mutants for overcoming selpercatinib resistance. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 279:116891. [PMID: 39316846 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 09/05/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection kinase (RET) inhibition has been considered a promising therapeutic approach for treatment of a variety of cancers. However, the clinical therapeutic benefits of the second-generation RET inhibitor selpercatinib are greatly compromised by acquired resistance mediated by solvent-front mutations (e.g., RETG810 R/S/C). Herein, we report a class of 7-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1,6-naphthyridine derivatives as potent RET and RET solvent-front mutant inhibitors for overcoming selpercatinib resistance. The representative compound 20p exhibited excellent in vitro inhibitory activities against solvent-front mutations (RETG810R, RETG810S, and RETG810C) with low nanomolar range (IC50 of 5.7-8.3 nM), which was 15-29-fold more potent than selpercatinib (IC50 of 95.3-244.1 nM). Additionally, 20p exhibited acceptable pharmacokinetic properties with oral bioavailability of 30.4 %. Importantly, 20p exhibited highly impressive antitumor potency in both a Ba/F3-KIF5B-RETWT-derived xenograft mouse model and a selpercatinib-resistant Ba/F3-KIF5B-RETG810R-positive mutant xenograft mouse model. Overall, 20p represents a novel and promising drug lead for overcoming RET solvent-front mutation-based resistance to selpercatinib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junbo Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Hunan Normal University & Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Hanxuan Mo
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zhigang An
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Zishu Tang
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Xinyu Deng
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China
| | - Huifang Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Hunan Normal University & Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China
| | - Yi Gong
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Chenggong Zheng
- Pulmonary Hospital, Changsha Central Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, 410004, China
| | - Linsheng Zhuo
- Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, China.
| | - Shuguang Tan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hengyang Hospital of Hunan Normal University & Hengyang Central Hospital, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.
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2
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de la Fouchardière C, Fugazzola L, Locati LD, Alvarez CV, Peeters RP, Camacho P, Simon IM, Jarząb B, Netea-Maier R. Improved guidance is needed to optimise diagnostics and treatment of patients with thyroid cancer in Europe. Endocrine 2024; 83:585-593. [PMID: 38001324 PMCID: PMC10901911 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03610-5] [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: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
Although thyroid cancer (TC) is generally associated with a favourable prognosis, there are certain high-risk groups with a clear unmet therapeutic need. Unravelling the genomic landscape of TC has recently led to the development of novel effective targeted treatments. To date, these treatments have mostly been evaluated in non-randomised single-arm phase II clinical trials and are consequently non-reimbursed in several countries. Furthermore, most of these agents must be tailored to individual patient molecular characteristics, a context known as personalised cancer medicine, necessitating a requirement for predictive molecular biomarker testing. Existing guidelines, both in Europe and internationally, entail mostly therapeutic rather than molecular testing recommendations. This may reflect ambiguity among experts due to lack of evidence and also practical barriers in availability of the preferred molecular somatic screening and/or targeted treatments. This article reviews existing European recommendations regarding advanced/metastatic TC management with a special focus on molecular testing, and compares findings with real-world practice based on a recent survey involving TC experts from 18 European countries. Significant disparities are highlighted between theory and practice related to variable access to infrastructure, therapies and expertise, together with the insufficient availability of multidisciplinary tumour boards. In particular, practitioners' choice of what, how and when to test is shown to be influenced by the expertise of the available laboratory, the financing source and the existence of potential facilitators, such as clinical trial access. Overall, the need of a collaborative initiative among European stakeholders to develop standardised, accessible molecular genotyping approaches in TC is underscored.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Fugazzola
- Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura D Locati
- Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
- Medical Oncology Unit, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy
| | - Clara V Alvarez
- Neoplasia & Endocrine Differentiation, Centro de Investigación en Medicina Molecular y Enfermedades Crónicas (CIMUS), University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IDIS), 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Robin P Peeters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Barbara Jarząb
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology, Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, 44-102, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Romana Netea-Maier
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
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Pishdad R, Illei PB, Gocke CD, Ball DW. RET gene fusion and emergent Selpercatinib resistance in a calcitonin-rich neuroendocrine carcinoma: a case report. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1360492. [PMID: 38469239 PMCID: PMC10926684 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1360492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastatic lung neuroendocrine carcinomas provide diagnostic challenges in identifying the cell of origin. High level calcitonin expression is not pathognomonic for medullary thyroid cancer. Tumor mutation analysis may provide essential clues regarding tissue origin and treatment targets. Oncogenic RET gene fusions have been identified in non-small cell lung cancer and non-medullary thyroid cancers, whereas RET point mutations are the key genetic finding in both inherited and sporadic MTC. Patients who receive radiation for the treatment of other cancers have an increased risk of developing a second malignancy, including a neuroendocrine carcinoma. Herein, we present a case of calcitonin-rich neuroendocrine carcinoma emerging on a background of prior radiation and chemotherapy for the treatment of Hodgkin's disease. Identification of a RET gene rearrangement (KIF5B-RET) led to initial successful treatment with selpercatinib, with eventual resistance associated with an activating mutation involving the MEK1 protein (MAP2K1 p. E102-I103 del) that led to relapse and progression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Pishdad
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Peter B. Illei
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Christopher D. Gocke
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Douglas W. Ball
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Bulanova Pekova B, Sykorova V, Mastnikova K, Vaclavikova E, Moravcova J, Vlcek P, Lancova L, Lastuvka P, Katra R, Bavor P, Kodetova D, Chovanec M, Drozenova J, Matej R, Astl J, Hlozek J, Hrabal P, Vcelak J, Bendlova B. RET fusion genes in pediatric and adult thyroid carcinomas: cohort characteristics and prognosis. Endocr Relat Cancer 2023; 30:e230117. [PMID: 37882481 PMCID: PMC10620462 DOI: 10.1530/erc-23-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is associated with a broad range of different mutations, including RET (rearranged during transfection) fusion genes. The importance of characterizing RET fusion-positive tumors has recently increased due to the possibility of targeted treatment. The aim of this study was to identify RET fusion-positive thyroid tumors, correlate them with clinicopathological features, compare them with other mutated carcinomas, and evaluate long-term follow-up of patients. The cohort consisted of 1564 different thyroid tissue samples (including 1164 thyroid carcinoma samples) from pediatric and adult patients. Samples were analyzed for known driver mutations occurring in thyroid cancer. Negative samples were subjected to extensive RET fusion gene analyses using next-generation sequencing and real-time PCR. RET fusion genes were not detected in any low-risk neoplasm or benign thyroid tissue and were detected only in papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), in 113/993 (11.4%) patients, three times more frequently in pediatric and adolescent patients (29.8%) than in adult patients (8.7%). A total of 20 types of RET fusions were identified. RET fusion-positive carcinomas were associated with aggressive tumor behavior, including high rates of lymph node (75.2%) and distant metastases (18.6%), significantly higher than in NTRK fusion, BRAF V600E and RAS-positive carcinomas. Local and distant metastases were also frequently found in patients with microcarcinomas positive for the RET fusions. 'True recurrences' occurred rarely (2.4%) and only in adult patients. The 2-, 5-, 10-year disease-specific survival rates were 99%, 96%, and 95%, respectively. RET fusion-positive carcinomas were associated with high invasiveness and metastatic activity, but probably due to intensive treatment with low patient mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vlasta Sykorova
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karolina Mastnikova
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Eliska Vaclavikova
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Moravcova
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Vlcek
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Lancova
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Lastuvka
- Departments of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, 1st Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Rami Katra
- Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Bavor
- Department of Surgery, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Kodetova
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Chovanec
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Drozenova
- Department of Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radoslav Matej
- Department of Pathology, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaromir Astl
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, 3rd Faculty of Medicine and Military University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Hlozek
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Maxillofacial Surgery, 3rd Faculty of Medicine and Military University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Hrabal
- Department of Pathology, Military University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Josef Vcelak
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Bela Bendlova
- Department of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic
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5
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Discovery of 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-based ureas as potent RET inhibitors. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 251:115237. [PMID: 36905915 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) is a promising target for antitumor drug development. Multikinase inhibitors (MKI) have been developed for RET-driven cancers but displayed limited efficacy in disease control. Two selective RET inhibitors were approved by FDA in 2020 and proved potent clinical efficacy. However, the discovery of novel RET inhibitors with high target selectivity and improved safety is still highly desirable. Herein, we reported a class of 3,5-diaryl-1H-pyrazol-based ureas as new RET inhibitors. The representative compounds 17a/b displayed high selectivity to other kinases, and potently inhibited isogenic BaF3-CCDC6-RET cells harboring wild-type, or gatekeeper mutation (V804M). They also displayed moderate potency against BaF3-CCDC6-RET-G810C with solvent-front mutation. Compound 17b showed better pharmacokinetics properties and demonstrated promising oral in vivo antitumor efficacy in a BaF3-CCDC6-RET-V804M xenograft model. It may be utilized as a new lead compound for further development.
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Chu YH. This is Your Thyroid on Drugs: Targetable Mutations and Fusions in Thyroid Carcinoma. Surg Pathol Clin 2023; 16:57-73. [PMID: 36739167 DOI: 10.1016/j.path.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This review aims to provide an overview of the molecular pathogenesis thyroid carcinomas, emphasizing genetic alterations that are therapeutically actionable. The main pathways in thyroid carcinogenesis are the MAPK and PI3K pathways. Point mutations and gene rearrangements affecting the pathway effectors and receptor tyrosine kinases are well-known drivers of thyroid cancer. Research over the past few decades has successfully introduced highly effective treatments for unresectable thyroid cancer, evolving from multi-kinase inhibitors to structurally selective agents, with constantly improving toxicity profiles and coverage of resistance mechanisms. The pros and cons of major laboratory techniques for therapeutic target identification are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsia Chu
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fuxing Street, Guishan District, Taoyuan City 333, Taiwan.
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7
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Zhang Y, Chan S, He R, Liu Y, Song X, Tu ZC, Ren X, Zhou Y, Zhang Z, Wang Z, Zhou F, Ding K. 1-Methyl-3-((4-(quinolin-4-yloxy)phenyl)amino)-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as new rearranged during Transfection (RET) kinase inhibitors capable of suppressing resistant mutants in solvent-front regions. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114862. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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8
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Chu YH, Sadow PM. Kinase Fusion-Related Thyroid Carcinomas: Towards Predictive Models for Advanced Actionable Diagnostics. Endocr Pathol 2022; 33:421-435. [PMID: 36308634 PMCID: PMC10283356 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-022-09739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The past decade has brought significant advances in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of thyroid carcinogenesis. Among thyroid carcinomas, the most successful class of targeted therapeutics appears to be selective kinase inhibitors. Actionable kinase fusions arise in around 10-15% of cases of thyroid cancer, a significant subset. A cohort of molecular testing platforms, both commercial and laboratory-derived, has been introduced into clinical practice to identify patients with targetable tumors, requiring pathologists to develop an integrative approach that utilizes traditional diagnostic cytopathology and histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and cutting-edge molecular assays for optimal diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic efficiency. Furthermore, there has been increasing scrutiny of the clinical behavior of kinase fusion-driven thyroid carcinoma (KFTC), still regarded as papillary thyroid carcinomas, and in characterizing molecular predictors of kinase inhibitor resistance with an aim to establish standardized, evidence-based treatment regimens. This review presents an overview of the current literature on the clinicopathologic and molecular features of KFTC as well as the latest investigational progress and encountered challenges for this unique subset of thyroid neoplasias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsia Chu
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Peter M Sadow
- Departments of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Pathology Service, WRN 219, 55 Fruit Street, MA, 02114, Boston, USA.
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9
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Regua AT, Najjar M, Lo HW. RET signaling pathway and RET inhibitors in human cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:932353. [PMID: 35957881 PMCID: PMC9359433 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.932353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) receptor tyrosine kinase was first identified over thirty years ago as a novel transforming gene. Since its discovery and subsequent pathway characterization, RET alterations have been identified in numerous cancer types and are most prevalent in thyroid carcinomas and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In other tumor types such as breast cancer and salivary gland carcinomas, RET alterations can be found at lower frequencies. Aberrant RET activity is associated with poor prognosis of thyroid and lung carcinoma patients, and is strongly correlated with increased risk of distant metastases. RET aberrations encompass a variety of genomic or proteomic alterations, most of which confer constitutive activation of RET. Activating RET alterations, such as point mutations or gene fusions, enhance activity of signaling pathways downstream of RET, namely PI3K/AKT, RAS/RAF, MAPK, and PLCγ pathways, to promote cell proliferation, growth, and survival. Given the important role that mutant RET plays in metastatic cancers, significant efforts have been made in developing inhibitors against RET kinase activity. These efforts have led to FDA approval of Selpercatinib and Pralsetinib for NSCLC, as well as, additional selective RET inhibitors in preclinical and clinical testing. This review covers the current biological understanding of RET signaling, the impact of RET hyperactivity on tumor progression in multiple tumor types, and RET inhibitors with promising preclinical and clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina T. Regua
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Mariana Najjar
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Hui-Wen Lo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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Vodopivec DM, Hu MI. RET kinase inhibitors for RET-altered thyroid cancers. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2022; 14:17588359221101691. [PMID: 35756966 PMCID: PMC9218446 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221101691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision oncology has opened a new era in cancer treatment focused on targeting specific cellular pathways directly involved in tumorigenesis. The REarrangement during Transfection (RET) proto-oncogene is involved in the pathogenesis of various thyroid cancer subtypes. Mutations in RET give rise to both hereditary and sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). RET fusions are found in follicular cell-derived thyroid cancers (papillary, poorly differentiated, and anaplastic). Hence, drugs that block the RET tyrosine kinase receptor have been explored in the management of locally advanced or metastatic thyroid cancer. The multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) with nonselective RET inhibition are sorafenib, lenvatinib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, and sunitinib. Although the efficacy of these drugs varies, a major issue is the lack of specificity resulting in a higher rate of drug-related toxicities, leading to dose reduction, interruption, or discontinuation. Moreover, MKIs are subject to drug resistance by RET Val804 residue gatekeeper mutations. In phase I/II clinical studies, the highly selective first-generation RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, demonstrate high efficacy in controlling disease even in the presence of gatekeeper mutations combined with greater tolerability. However, resistance mechanisms such as RET solvent front mutations (SFMs) have evolved in some patients, giving the need to develop the selective second-generation RET inhibitors. Although the approval of selpercatinib and pralsetinib in 2020 has profoundly benefited patients with RET-altered thyroid cancer, further research into optimal treatment strategies, mechanisms of drug resistance, long-term consequences of potent RET-inhibition, and development of more effective agents against emergent mutations are much needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danica M Vodopivec
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030-4000, USA
| | - Mimi I Hu
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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11
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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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12
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Thein KZ, Velcheti V, Mooers BHM, Wu J, Subbiah V. Precision therapy for RET-altered cancers with RET inhibitors. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:1074-1088. [PMID: 34391699 PMCID: PMC8599646 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) is involved in the physiological development of some organ systems. Activating RET alterations via either gene fusions or point mutations are potent oncogenic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer, thyroid cancer, and in multiple diverse cancers. RET-altered cancers were initially treated with multikinase inhibitors (MKIs). The efficacy of MKIs was modest at the expense of notable toxicities from their off-target activity. Recently, highly potent and RET-specific inhibitors selpercatinib and pralsetinib were successfully translated to the clinic and FDA approved. We summarize the current state-of-the-art therapeutics with preclinical and clinical insights of these novel RET inhibitors, acquired resistance mechanisms, and future outlooks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyaw Z Thein
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health and Science University/Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Vamsidhar Velcheti
- Department of Medicine, NYU Langone- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Blaine H M Mooers
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Laboratory of Biomolecular Structure and Function, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Peggy and Charles Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Vivek Subbiah
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; MD Anderson Cancer Network, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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Locantore P, Novizio R, Corsello A, Paragliola RM, Pontecorvi A, Corsello SM. Discovery, preclinical development, and clinical application of pralsetinib in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2021; 17:101-107. [PMID: 34702125 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.1995351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of targeted drug therapies has substantially increased in the treatment of RET-mutated thyroid and other solid cancers over the last decade. Multi-Kinase Inhibitors (MKI) have been approved by FDA, but limited efficacies and side effects make them uneasy to tolerate. Pralsetinib is an oral highly selective RET inhibitor drug that has been generated and clinically validated to have higher potency and less toxicity. AREAS COVERED The present paper offers a brief summary of RET-related thyroid cancer genetics, an overview of the preclinical development of pralsetinib and reviews its clinical validation in the treatment of thyroid cancer. EXPERT OPINION Pralsetinib is a new generation oral treatment that has been approved by the FDA for patients with RET-mutated thyroid cancer. Pralsetinib showed a safer toxicity profile compared to previously approved MKI, probably due to lower inhibition of other tyrosine kinases, especially VEGFR. The approval study ARROW trial showed that patients with RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer had a better overall response rate to pralsetinib compared to standard-of-care treatments. Additional clinical trials or data enrichment of existing databases are desirable in order to verify and further describe the clinical benefit of pralsetinib in such patients to fully understand its pharmacological profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Locantore
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Novizio
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Corsello
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
| | - Rosa Maria Paragliola
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
| | - Salvatore Maria Corsello
- Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Unit of Endocrinology - Università Cattolica Del Sacro Cuore, Fondazione Policlinico "Gemelli", Irccs, Rome, Italy
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14
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de la Fouchardière C, Wassermann J, Calcagno F, Bardet S, Al Ghuzlan A, Borget I, Borson Chazot F, Do Cao C, Buffet C, Zerdoud S, Decaussin-Petrucci M, Godbert Y, Leboulleux S. [Molecular genotyping in refractory thyroid cancers in 2021: When, how and why? A review from the TUTHYREF network]. Bull Cancer 2021; 108:1044-1056. [PMID: 34593218 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2021.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Refractory thyroid cancers include radio-iodine-refractory cancers, metastatic or locally advanced unresectable medullary and anaplastic thyroid cancers. Their management has been based for several years on the use of multi-target kinase inhibitors, with anti-angiogenic action, with the exception of anaplastic cancers usually treated with chemo- and radiotherapy. The situation has recently evolved due to the availability of molecular genotyping techniques allowing the discovery of rare but targetable molecular abnormalities. New treatment options have become available, more effective and less toxic than the previously available multi-target kinase inhibitors. The management of refractory thyroid cancers is therefore becoming more complex both at a diagnosis level with the need to know when, how and why to look for these molecular abnormalities but also at a therapeutic level, innovative treatments being hardly accessible. The cost of molecular analyzes and the access to treatments need also to be homogenized because disparities could lead to inequality of care at a national or international level. Finally, the strategy of identifying molecular alterations and treating these rare tumors reinforces the importance of a discussion in a multidisciplinary consultation meeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johanna Wassermann
- Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, service d'oncologie médicale, 47-83 boulevard de l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Fabien Calcagno
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besançon, département d'oncologie médicale, boulevard Fleming, 25030 Besançon, France
| | - Stéphane Bardet
- Centre François-Baclesse, service de médecine nucléaire et UCP thyroïde, 3, avenue du Général Harris, 14000 Caen, France
| | - Abir Al Ghuzlan
- Gustave-Roussy, service de pathologie morphologique (biopathologie), 39, rue Camille-Desmoulins, 94805 Villejuif cedex, France
| | - Isabelle Borget
- Université Paris-Saclay, Gustave-Roussy, service de biostatistique et d'épidémiologie, Villejuif, France; Université Paris-Saclay, Équipe labellisée Ligue contre le cancer, GRADES, Oncostat U1018, Inserm, Chatenay-Malabry, France
| | - Françoise Borson Chazot
- Hôpital Louis-radel, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Fédération d'endocrinologie, 28, avenue doyen Lépine, 69500 Bron, France
| | - Christine Do Cao
- CHU de Lille, hôpital Claude-Huriez, service d'endocrinologie diabétologie métabolisme nutrition, rue Michel-Polonovski, 59037 Lille cedex, France
| | - Camille Buffet
- AP-HP, Sorbonne université, hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut E3M, DMU Archimède, Institut universitaire du Cancer (IUC), unité thyroïde-tumeurs endocrines du Pr Leenhardt, France
| | - Slimane Zerdoud
- Institut universitaire du cancer Toulouse - Oncopole, département de médecine nucléaire, 1, avenue Irène Joliot-Curie, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France
| | - Myriam Decaussin-Petrucci
- Hôpital Lyon Sud, service d'anatomie et cytologie pathologiques, chemin du Grand-Revoyet, 69495 Pierre-Bénite cedex, France; Université Lyon 1, Cancer Research Center of Lyon, Inserm 1052 CNRS 5286, France
| | - Yann Godbert
- Institut Bergonié Bordeaux, département de cancérolgie endocrinienne et médecine nucleaire, 229, cours de l'argonne, 33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Sophie Leboulleux
- Gustave-Roussy and Paris-Saclay University, Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology department, 114, rue Edouard-Vaillant, Villejuif, France
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15
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Chu YH, Sadow PM. Kinase fusion-related thyroid carcinomas: distinct pathologic entities with evolving diagnostic implications. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 27:252-262. [PMID: 34484420 DOI: 10.1016/j.mpdhp.2021.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Activating genomic alterations in protein kinases represent a major driving force in thyroid carcinogenesis. Recently, oncogenic kinase fusions have been a central subject of pharmaceutical development, with a rapidly growing number of inhibitors validated for treating molecularly matched malignancies. Thyroid carcinomas harbor actionable kinase fusions in 10-15% of cases, occupying an increasingly recognized subpopulation of thyroid carcinomas with enhanced attention to molecular profiling. With advances in kinase-based cancer therapy, several challenges have emerged for pathologists. To interrogate an expanding list of targetable genes, the diagnostic paradigm has shifted from conventional single-gene methods toward high-throughput nucleic acid sequencing. Considering the relatively low incidence of most kinase fusions, a selective approach for molecular testing that utilizes histologic and immunohistochemical findings in triaging cases becomes essential for laboratory resource management. Moreover, kinase inhibitor resistance inevitably evolves, requiring a multimodal approach to optimal therapy, despite targeted therapies showing an enhanced, durable response. In this review, we assess the current clinicopathologic understanding and ongoing investigational topics in kinase fusion-related thyroid carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsia Chu
- Fellow, Molecular Genetic Pathology, Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter M Sadow
- Director, Head & Neck Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Associate Professor of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Departments of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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16
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Saha D, Ryan KR, Lakkaniga NR, Acharya B, Garcia NG, Smith EL, Frett B. Targeting Rearranged during Transfection in Cancer: A Perspective on Small-Molecule Inhibitors and Their Clinical Development. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11747-11773. [PMID: 34402300 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c02167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) is a receptor tyrosine kinase essential for the normal development and maturation of a diverse range of tissues. Aberrant RET signaling in cancers, due to RET mutations, gene fusions, and overexpression, results in the activation of downstream pathways promoting survival, growth, and metastasis. Pharmacological manipulation of RET is effective in treating RET-driven cancers, and efforts toward developing RET-specific therapies have increased over the last 5 years. In 2020, RET-selective inhibitors pralsetinib and selpercatinib achieved clinical approval, which marked the first approvals for kinase inhibitors specifically developed to target the RET oncoprotein. This Perspective discusses current development and clinical applications for RET precision medicine by providing an overview of the incremental improvement of kinase inhibitors for use in RET-driven malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasmita Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Katie Rose Ryan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Naga Rajiv Lakkaniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Baku Acharya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Noemi Garcia Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Erica Lane Smith
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
| | - Brendan Frett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205 United States
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17
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Salvatore D, Santoro M, Schlumberger M. The importance of the RET gene in thyroid cancer and therapeutic implications. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:296-306. [PMID: 33603219 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-021-00470-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the RET receptor tyrosine kinase in 1985, alterations of this protein have been found in diverse thyroid cancer subtypes. RET gene rearrangements are observed in papillary thyroid carcinoma, which result in RET fusion products. By contrast, single amino acid substitutions and small insertions and/or deletions are typical of hereditary and sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma. RET rearrangements and mutations of extracellular cysteines facilitate dimerization and kinase activation, whereas mutations in the RET kinase coding domain drive dimerization-independent kinase activation. Thus, RET kinase inhibition is an attractive therapeutic target in patients with RET alterations. This approach was initially achieved using multikinase inhibitors, which affect multiple deregulated pathways that include RET kinase. In clinical practice, use of multikinase inhibitors in patients with advanced thyroid cancer resulted in therapeutic efficacy, which was associated with frequent and sometimes severe adverse effects. However, remarkable progress has been achieved with the identification of novel potent and selective RET kinase inhibitors for the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer. Although expanded clinical validation in future trials is needed, the sustained antitumoural activity and the improved safety profile of these novel compounds is opening a new exciting era in precision oncology for RET-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Salvatore
- Department of Public Health, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Massimo Santoro
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Martin Schlumberger
- Département de Médecine Nucléaire et Cancérologie Endocrinienne, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.
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18
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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: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.7] [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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19
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Romei C, Elisei R. A Narrative Review of Genetic Alterations in Primary Thyroid Epithelial Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:1726. [PMID: 33572167 PMCID: PMC7915177 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22041726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid carcinoma is the most frequent endocrine neoplasia. Different types of thyroid carcinoma are described: well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC), follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). MTC is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in 25% of cases. The genetic landscape of thyroid carcinoma has been largely deciphered. In PTC, genetic alterations have been found in about 95% of tumors: BRAF mutations and RET rearrangements are the main genetic alterations. BRAF and RAS mutations have been confirmed to play an important role also in PDTC and ATC, together with TP53 mutations that are fundamental in tumor progression. It has also been clearly demonstrated that telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) promoter mutations and TP53 mutations are present with a high-frequency in more advanced tumors, frequently associated with other mutations, and their presence, especially if simultaneous, is a signature of aggressiveness. In MTC, next-generation sequencing confirmed that mutations in the RET gene are the most common molecular events followed by H-RAS and K-RAS mutations. The comprehensive knowledge of the genetic events responsible for thyroid tumorigenesis is important to better predict the biological behavior and better plan the therapeutic strategy for specific treatment of the malignancy based on its molecular profile.
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/pathology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Carcinogenesis/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- DNA Mutational Analysis
- Gene Rearrangement
- Humans
- Mutation
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/genetics
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics
- Telomerase/genetics
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/genetics
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/genetics
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/pathology
- Thyroid Gland/pathology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
- Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rossella Elisei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
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20
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Oczko-Wojciechowska M, Czarniecka A, Gawlik T, Jarzab B, Krajewska J. Current status of the prognostic molecular markers in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Endocr Connect 2020; 9:R251-R263. [PMID: 33112827 PMCID: PMC7774764 DOI: 10.1530/ec-20-0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare thyroid malignancy, which arises from parafollicular C-cells. It occurs in the hereditary or sporadic form. Hereditary type is a consequence of activation of the RET proto-oncogene by germline mutations, whereas about 80% of sporadic MTC tumors harbor somatic, mainly RET or rarely RAS mutations. According to the current ATA guidelines, a postoperative MTC risk stratification and long-term follow-up are mainly based on histopathological data, including tumor stage, the presence of lymph node and/or distant metastases (TNM classification), and serum concentration of two biomarkers: calcitonin (Ctn) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The type of RET germline mutation also correlates with MTC clinical characteristics. The most common and the best known RET mutation in sporadic MTC, localized at codon 918, is related to a more aggressive MTC course and poorer survival. However, even if histopathological or clinical features allow to predict a long-term prognosis, they are not sufficient to select the patients showing aggressive MTC courses requiring immediate treatment or those, who are refractory to different therapeutic methods. Besides the RET gene mutations, there are currently no other reliable molecular prognostic markers. This review summarizes the present data of genomic investigation on molecular prognostic factors in medullary thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Oczko-Wojciechowska
- Department of Genetic and Molecular Diagnostics of Cancer, M. Sklodowska-Curie Institute National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Czarniecka
- Oncologic and Reconstructive Surgery Clinic, M. Sklodowska-Curie Institute National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Tomasz Gawlik
- Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology Department, M. Sklodowska-Curie Institute National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Barbara Jarzab
- Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology Department, M. Sklodowska-Curie Institute National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
| | - Jolanta Krajewska
- Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology Department, M. Sklodowska-Curie Institute National Research Institute of Oncology Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland
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21
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Bai Y, Niu D, Yao Q, Lin D, Kakudo K. Updates in the advances of sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma: from the molecules to the clinic. Gland Surg 2020; 9:1847-1856. [PMID: 33224860 DOI: 10.21037/gs-2019-catp-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine malignancy that originates in parafollicular cells. It is well-known that a quarter of MTC are involved in hereditary multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 syndromes, whereas most MTC are sporadic. Unlike the commonly encountered gastrointestinal or pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, most sporadic MTCs have distinct genetic alterations featured by somatic changes of either Rearranged during Transfection (RET) or RAS point mutation. The increasing application of next-generation sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and other molecular detection techniques enables us to understand MTC comprehensively concerning its detailed molecular changes and their clinical correlations. This article reviews the advances in genetic alterations and their prognostic impact in sporadic MTC among different populations and discusses the associated tumor immune microenvironments and the potential role of immunotherapy targeting PD-L1/PD-1 in treating MTC. Furthermore, the current multikinase inhibitor targeting therapy for sporadic MTC has been summarized here and its efficacy and drug toxicity are discussed. Updates in advance of the role of calcitonin/procalcitonin/calcitonin-related polypeptide alpha (CALCA) gene transcripts in diagnosing and handling MTC are also mentioned. The treatment of advanced MTC is still challenging and might require a combination of several modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Bai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Dongfeng Niu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Yao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Dongmei Lin
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Kennichi Kakudo
- Department of Pathology and Thyroid Disease Center, Izumi City General Hospital, Izumi, Japan
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22
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Gu Y, Li T, Kapoor A, Major P, Tang D. Contactin 1: An Important and Emerging Oncogenic Protein Promoting Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E874. [PMID: 32752094 PMCID: PMC7465769 DOI: 10.3390/genes11080874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Even with recent progress, cancer remains the second leading cause of death, outlining a need to widen the current understanding on oncogenic factors. Accumulating evidence from recent years suggest Contactin 1 (CNTN1)'s possession of multiple oncogenic activities in a variety of cancer types. CNTN1 is a cell adhesion molecule that is dysregulated in many human carcinomas and plays important roles in cancer progression and metastases. Abnormalities in CNTN1 expression associate with cancer progression and poor prognosis. Mechanistically, CNTN1 functions in various signaling pathways frequently altered in cancer, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC)-VEGF receptor 3 (VEFGR3)/fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (Flt4) axis, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), Notch signaling pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. These oncogenic events are resulted via interactions between tumor and stroma, which can be contributed by CNTN1, an adhesion protein. CNTN1 expression in breast cancer correlates with the expression of genes functioning in cancer-stroma interactions and skeletal system development. Evidence supports that CNTN1 promotes cancer-stromal interaction, resulting in activation of a complex network required for cancer progression and metastasis (bone metastasis for breast cancer). CNTN1 inhibitions has been proven to be effective in experimental models to reduce oncogenesis. In this paper, we will review CNTN1's alterations in cancer, its main biochemical mechanisms and interactions with its relevant cancer pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gu
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- The Research Institute of St Joe's Hamilton, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
- Urological Cancer Center for Research and Innovation (UCCRI), St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
| | - Taosha Li
- Life-Tech Industry Alliance, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Anil Kapoor
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- The Research Institute of St Joe's Hamilton, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
- Urological Cancer Center for Research and Innovation (UCCRI), St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
- Department of Surgery, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Pierre Major
- Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Damu Tang
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
- The Research Institute of St Joe's Hamilton, St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
- Urological Cancer Center for Research and Innovation (UCCRI), St. Joseph's Hospital, Hamilton, ON L8N 4A6, Canada
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23
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Belli C, Anand S, Gainor JF, Penault-Llorca F, Subbiah V, Drilon A, Andrè F, Curigliano G. Progresses Toward Precision Medicine in RET-altered Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:6102-6111. [PMID: 32665298 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-1587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RET (rearranged during transfection) gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase essential for many physiologic functions, but RET aberrations are involved in many pathologies. While RET loss-of-function mutations are associated with congenital disorders like Hirschsprung disease and CAKUT, RET gain-of-function mutations and rearrangements are critical drivers of tumor growth and proliferation in many different cancers. RET-altered (RET+ ) tumors have been hitherto targeted with multikinase inhibitors (MKI) having anti-RET activities, but they inhibit other kinase targets more potently and show limited clinical activities. The lack of target specificity and consequently increased side effects, responsible for dose reduction and drug discontinuation, are critical limitations of MKIs in the clinics. New selective RET inhibitors, selpercatinib and pralsetinib, are showing promising activities, improved response rates, and more favorable toxicity profiles in early clinical trials. This review critically discusses the oncogenic activation of RET and its role in different kinds of tumors, clinical features of RET+ tumors, clinically actionable genetic RET alterations and their diagnosis, and the available data and results of nonselective and selective targeting of RET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Belli
- Division of Early Drug Development for Innovative Therapies, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Santosh Anand
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development (GEDEV), Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.,Department of Informatics, Systems and Communications (DISCo), University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Frederique Penault-Llorca
- Department of Biopathology, Centre Jean Perrin and University Clermont Auvergne/INSERM U1240, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vivek Subbiah
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Alexander Drilon
- Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York.,Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | | | - Giuseppe 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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24
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Moccia M, Frett B, Zhang L, Lakkaniga NR, Briggs DC, Chauhan R, Brescia A, Federico G, Yan W, Santoro M, McDonald NQ, Li HY, Carlomagno F. Bioisosteric Discovery of NPA101.3, a Second-Generation RET/VEGFR2 Inhibitor Optimized for Single-Agent Polypharmacology. J Med Chem 2020; 63:4506-4516. [PMID: 32298114 PMCID: PMC7901654 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.9b01336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RET receptor tyrosine kinase is a driver oncogene in human cancer. We recently identified the clinical drug candidate Pz-1, which targets RET and VEGFR2. A key in vivo metabolite of Pz-1 is its less active demethylated pyrazole analogue. Using bioisosteric substitution methods, here, we report the identification of NPA101.3, lacking the structural liability for demethylation. NPA101.3 showed a selective inhibitory profile and an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) of <0.003 μM for both RET and VEGFR2. NPA101.3 inhibited phosphorylation of all tested RET oncoproteins as well as VEGFR2 and proliferation of cells transformed by RET. Oral administration of NPA101.3 (10 mg/kg/day) completely prevented formation of tumors induced by RET/C634Y-transformed cells, while it weakened, but did not abrogate, formation of tumors induced by a control oncogene (HRAS/G12V). The balanced synchronous inhibition of both RET and VEGFR2, as well the resistance to demethylation, renders NPA101.3 a potential clinical candidate for RET-driven cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Moccia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Brendan Frett
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States.,Synactix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tucson, Arizona 85718, United States
| | - Lingtian Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - Naga Rajiv Lakkaniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - David C Briggs
- Signalling and Structural Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Rakhee Chauhan
- Signalling and Structural Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, U.K
| | - Annalisa Brescia
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Giorgia Federico
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States
| | - Massimo Santoro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy
| | - Neil Q McDonald
- Signalling and Structural Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, U.K.,Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London WC1E 7HX, U.K
| | - Hong-Yu Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205, United States.,Synactix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tucson, Arizona 85718, United States
| | - Francesca Carlomagno
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli "Federico II", 80131 Napoli, Italy.,Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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25
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Proteogenomics analysis unveils a TFG-RET gene fusion and druggable targets in papillary thyroid carcinomas. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2056. [PMID: 32345963 PMCID: PMC7188865 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15955-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common type of endocrine malignancy. By RNA-seq analysis, we identify a RET rearrangement in the tumour material of a patient who does not harbour any known RAS or BRAF mutations. This new gene fusion involves exons 1–4 from the 5′ end of the Trk fused Gene (TFG) fused to the 3′ end of RET tyrosine kinase leading to a TFG-RET fusion which transforms immortalized human thyroid cells in a kinase-dependent manner. TFG-RET oligomerises in a PB1 domain-dependent manner and oligomerisation of TFG-RET is required for oncogenic transformation. Quantitative proteomic analysis reveals the upregulation of E3 Ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 and DUBs like USP9X and UBP7 in both tumor and metastatic lesions, which is further confirmed in additional patients. Expression of TFG-RET leads to the upregulation of HUWE1 and inhibition of HUWE1 significantly reduces RET-mediated oncogenesis. Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is one of the most common type of endocrine malignancy. Here, the authors use proteogenomic approaches to analyse the primary tumour and lymph node metastases from a PTC patient and report an oncogenic RET fusion, and potential druggable targets from the ubiquitin signaling machinery for treating human PTCs.
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26
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RET Gene Fusions in Malignancies of the Thyroid and Other Tissues. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11040424. [PMID: 32326537 PMCID: PMC7230609 DOI: 10.3390/genes11040424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Following the identification of the BCR-ABL1 (Breakpoint Cluster Region-ABelson murine Leukemia) fusion in chronic myelogenous leukemia, gene fusions generating chimeric oncoproteins have been recognized as common genomic structural variations in human malignancies. This is, in particular, a frequent mechanism in the oncogenic conversion of protein kinases. Gene fusion was the first mechanism identified for the oncogenic activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase RET (REarranged during Transfection), initially discovered in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). More recently, the advent of highly sensitive massive parallel (next generation sequencing, NGS) sequencing of tumor DNA or cell-free (cfDNA) circulating tumor DNA, allowed for the detection of RET fusions in many other solid and hematopoietic malignancies. This review summarizes the role of RET fusions in the pathogenesis of human cancer.
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Subbiah V, Yang D, Velcheti V, Drilon A, Meric-Bernstam F. State-of-the-Art Strategies for Targeting RET-Dependent Cancers. J Clin Oncol 2020; 38:1209-1221. [PMID: 32083997 DOI: 10.1200/jco.19.02551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating receptor tyrosine kinase RET (rarranged during transfection) gene alterations have been identified as oncogenic in multiple malignancies. RET gene rearrangements retaining the kinase domain are oncogenic drivers in papillary thyroid cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer, and multiple other cancers. Activating RET mutations are associated with different phenotypes of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 as well as sporadic medullary thyroid cancer. RET is thus an attractive therapeutic target in patients with oncogenic RET alterations. Multikinase inhibitors with RET inhibitor activity, such as cabozantinib and vandetanib, have been explored in the clinic for tumors with activating RET gene alterations with modest clinical efficacy. As a result of the nonselective nature of these multikinase inhibitors, patients had off-target adverse effects, such as hypertension, rash, and diarrhea. This resulted in a narrow therapeutic index of these drugs, limiting ability to dose for clinically effective RET inhibition. In contrast, the recent discovery and clinical validation of highly potent selective RET inhibitors (pralsetinib, selpercatinib) demonstrating improved efficacy and a more favorable toxicity profile are poised to alter the landscape of RET-dependent cancers. These drugs appear to have broad activity across tumors with activating RET alterations. The mechanisms of resistance to these next-generation highly selective RET inhibitors is an area of active research. This review summarizes the current understanding of RET alterations and the state-of-the-art treatment strategies in RET-dependent cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivek Subbiah
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.,Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.,MD Anderson Cancer Network, Houston, TX
| | - Dong Yang
- Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Alexander Drilon
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Early Drug Development Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.,Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY
| | - Funda Meric-Bernstam
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.,Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute for Personalized Cancer Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
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28
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Li AY, McCusker MG, Russo A, Scilla KA, Gittens A, Arensmeyer K, Mehra R, Adamo V, Rolfo C. RET fusions in solid tumors. Cancer Treat Rev 2019; 81:101911. [PMID: 31715421 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2019.101911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 10/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The RET proto-oncogene has been well-studied. RET is involved in many different physiological and developmental functions. When altered, RET mutations influence disease in a variety of organ systems from Hirschsprung's disease and multiple endocrine neoplasia 2 (MEN2) to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Changes in RET expression have been discovered in 30-70% of invasive breast cancers and 50-60% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas in addition to colorectal adenocarcinoma, melanoma, small cell lung cancer, neuroblastoma, and small intestine neuroendocrine tumors. RET mutations have been associated with tumor proliferation, invasion, and migration. RET fusions or rearrangements are somatic juxtapositions of 5' sequences from other genes with 3' RET sequences encoding tyrosine kinase. RET rearrangements occur in approximately 2.5-73% of sporadic PTC and 1-3% of NSCLC patients. The most common RET fusions are CDCC6-RET and NCOA4-RET in PTC and KIF5B-RET in NSCLC. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors are drugs that target kinases such as RET in RET-driven (RET-mutation or RET-fusion-positive) disease. Multikinase inhibitors (MKI) target various kinases and other receptors. Several MKIs are FDA-approved for cancer therapy (sunitinib, sorafenib, vandetanib, cabozantinib, regorafenib, ponatinib, lenvatinib, alectinib) and non-oncologic disease (nintedanib). Selective RET inhibitor drugs LOXO-292 (selpercatinib) and BLU-667 (pralsetinib) are also undergoing phase I/II and I clinical trials, respectively, with preliminary results demonstrating partial response and low incidence of serious adverse events. RET fusions provide a viable therapeutic target for oncologic treatment, and further study is warranted into the prevalence and pathogenesis of RET fusions as well as development of current and new tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Y Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, United States
| | - Michael G McCusker
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Russo
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Medical Oncology Unit, A.O. Papardo & Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy
| | - Katherine A Scilla
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Allison Gittens
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Katherine Arensmeyer
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ranee Mehra
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Vincenzo Adamo
- Medical Oncology Unit, A.O. Papardo & Department of Human Pathology, University of Messina, Italy
| | - Christian Rolfo
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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29
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Appetecchia M, Lauretta R, Barnabei A, Pieruzzi L, Terrenato I, Cavedon E, Mian C, Castagna MG, Elisei R. Epidemiology of Simultaneous Medullary and Papillary Thyroid Carcinomas (MTC/PTC): An Italian Multicenter Study. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101516. [PMID: 31600997 PMCID: PMC6826384 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The concomitant presence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and medullary TC (MTC) is rare. In this multicentric study, we documented the epidemiological characteristics, disease conditions and clinical outcome of patients with simultaneous MTC/PTC. Methods: We collected data of patients with concomitant MTC/PTC at 14 Italian referral centers. Results: In total, 183 patients were enrolled. Diagnosis was mostly based on cytological examination (n = 58, 32%). At diagnosis, in the majority of cases, both PTC (n = 142, 78%) and MTC (n = 100, 54%) were at stage I. However, more cases of stage II–IV were reported with MTC (stage IV: n = 27, 15%) compared with PTC (n = 9, 5%). Information on survival was available for 165 patients: 109 patients (66%) were disease-free for both PTC and MTC at the last follow-up. Six patients died from MTC. Median time to progression was 123 months (95% confidence interval (CI): 89.3–156.7 months). Overall, 45% of patients were disease-free after >10 years from diagnosis (125 months); this figure was 72.5% for PTC and 51.1% for MTC. Conclusions: When MTC and PTC are concurrent, the priority should be given to the management of MTC since this entity appears associated with the most severe impact on prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Appetecchia
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy.
| | - Rosa Lauretta
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy.
| | - Agnese Barnabei
- Oncological Endocrinology Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy.
| | - Letizia Pieruzzi
- Endocrinology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa 56121, Italy.
| | - Irene Terrenato
- Biostatistics-Scientific Direction, IRCSS Regina Elena National Institute, Rome 00144, Italy.
| | | | - Caterina Mian
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto, University of Padua, Padua 35100, Italy.
| | | | - Rossella Elisei
- Endocrinology Unit, University Hospital of Pisa, Pisa 56121, Italy.
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30
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ANKRD26-RET - A novel gene fusion involving RET in papillary thyroid carcinoma. Cancer Genet 2019; 238:10-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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31
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Bim LV, Navarro FCP, Valente FOF, Lima-Junior JV, Delcelo R, Dias-da-Silva MR, Maciel RMB, Galante PAF, Cerutti JM. Retroposed copies of RET gene: a somatically acquired event in medullary thyroid carcinoma. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:104. [PMID: 31288802 PMCID: PMC6617568 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0552-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different pathogenic germline mutations in the RET oncogene are identified in MEN 2, a hereditary syndrome characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and other endocrine tumors. Although genetic predisposition is recognized, not all RET mutation carriers will develop the disease during their lifetime or, likewise, RET mutation carriers belonging to the same family may present clinical heterogeneity. It has been suggested that a single germline mutation might not be sufficient for development of MEN 2-associated tumors and a somatic bi-allelic alteration might be required. Here we investigated the presence of somatic second hit mutation in the RET gene in MTC. METHODS We integrated Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and whole exome sequencing (WES) to search for copy number alteration (CNA) in the RET gene in MTC samples and medullary thyroid cell lines (TT and MZ-CR-1). We next found reads spanning exon-exon boundaries on RET, an indicative of retrocopy. We subsequently searched for RET retrocopies in the human reference genome (GRCh37) and in the 1000 Genomes Project data, by looking for reads reporting joined exons in the RET locus or distinct genomic regions. To determine RET retrocopy specificity and recurrence, DNA isolated from sporadic and MEN 2-associated MTC (n = 37), peripheral blood (n = 3) and papillary thyroid carcinomas with RET fusion (n = 10) samples were tested using PCR-sequencing methodology. RESULTS Through MLPA we have found evidence of CNA in the RET gene in MTC samples and MTC cell lines. WES analysis reinforced the presence of the CNA and hinted for a retroposed copy of RET not found in the human reference genome and 1.000 Genomes Project. Extended analysis confirmed the presence of a somatic MTC-related retrocopy of RET in both sporadic and hereditary tumors. We further unveiled a recurrent (28%) novel point mutation (p.G548 V) found exclusively in the retrocopy of RET. The mutation was also found in cDNA of mutated samples, suggesting it might be functional. CONCLUSION We here report a somatic specific RET retroposed copy in MTC samples and cell lines. Our results support the idea that generation of retrocopies in somatic cells is likely to contribute to MTC genesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larissa V Bim
- Laboratório As Bases Genéticas dos Tumores da Tiroide, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Fábio C P Navarro
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávia O F Valente
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - José V Lima-Junior
- Laboratório As Bases Genéticas dos Tumores da Tiroide, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rosana Delcelo
- Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Magnus R Dias-da-Silva
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rui M B Maciel
- Laboratório de Endocrinologia Molecular e Translacional, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Pedro A F Galante
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-libanês, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Janete M Cerutti
- Laboratório As Bases Genéticas dos Tumores da Tiroide, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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32
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Guo QQ, Zhang SH, Niu LJ, Zhang YK, Li ZJ, Chang Q. Comprehensive evaluation of medullary thyroid carcinoma before surgery. Chin Med J (Engl) 2019; 132:834-841. [PMID: 30829709 PMCID: PMC6595859 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000000160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare disease, but it exhibits more aggressive behaviors. The aim of this study was to improve the diagnostic accuracy of MTC before surgery by analyzing the clinical and ultrasonic data of patients with MTC. METHODS The study included 71 patients (96 lesions) with histopathologically proven MTC between April 2011 and September 2016 in the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. The clinical characteristics and sonographic findings were retrospectively reviewed and compared between the ultrasonic correct diagnosis group and the ultrasonic misdiagnosis group with the t test or Mann-Whitney U test for quantitative parameters and the χ test or Fisher exact test for qualitative parameters. RESULTS Compared with the ultrasonic correct diagnosis group, the proportion of the cystic change in the ultrasonic misdiagnosed group was high (25.0% vs. 4.2%), the uncircumscribed margin and irregular shape proportions were low (20.8%, 58.3% vs. 74.7%, 87.3%), calcification was relatively rare (20.8% vs. 56.3%), and rich vascularity was relatively rare (25.0% vs. 78.9%). CONCLUSIONS In the case of atypical MTC, such as cystic change, circumscribed margin, regular shape, no calcification, no rich vascularity, and normal cervical lymph nodes, MTC is easily misdiagnosed as benign by ultrasound. Therefore, ultrasound, cytology and serum calcitonin should be comprehensively evaluated for a preoperative diagnosis of MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian-Qian Guo
- Department of Ultrasound, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Shao-Hang Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Haidian Hospital, Haidian Section of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100080, China
| | - Li-Juan Niu
- Department of Ultrasound, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yu-Kang Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Zheng-Jiang Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Qing Chang
- Department of Ultrasound, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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33
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Fisher SB, Cote GJ, Bui-Griffith JH, Lu W, Tang X, Hai T, Fisher KE, Williams MD, Wistuba II, Waguespack SG, Dorman CM, Ludwig MS, Graham PH, Perrier ND, Lee JE, Grubbs EG. Genetic characterization of medullary thyroid cancer in childhood survivors of the Chernobyl accident. Surgery 2019; 165:58-63. [PMID: 30392857 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2018.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiation-associated fusion oncogenes play a direct role in papillary thyroid cancer development and pathogenic fusions have recently been reported in medullary thyroid cancer. To date, no studies have evaluated oncogenic events in medullary thyroid cancer in a radiation-exposed population. METHODS Somatic and germline alterations, including RET fusions, were evaluated in paired medullary thyroid cancer tumor and normal samples from the Chernobyl Tissue Bank, a heavily screened population affected by the Chernobyl disaster. RESULTS Tissue was available for 49 individuals. The median age of diagnosis was 26 years (range 9 to 43 years); 16 were radiation-exposed at a median age of 6 (range 2 days to 17 years). A total of 21 patients harbored germline RET mutations (codons 634[13], 918[5], 790[1], 609[1], and 620[1]); 4 had family history. Sporadic medullary thyroid cancer was identified in 27 patients (RET[18], KRAS[1], RET+KRAS[1], TP53[1], wild type [6]), with 1 RET fusion (1/49;2%). The age at operation for patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer was not different than sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (23.5 vs 28 years, P = .063). In sporadic medullary thyroid cancer, radiation was not associated with a difference in age at operation, tumor size, or tumor stage (P > .05). CONCLUSION In a heavily screened cohort, genetic analysis revealed germline RET mutations in previously unrecognized probands and a remarkable number of sporadic medullary thyroid cancer cases with a young age at presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah B Fisher
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas
| | - Gilbert J Cote
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Wei Lu
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Houston, Texas
| | - Ximing Tang
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Houston, Texas
| | - Tao Hai
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Houston, Texas
| | - Kevin E Fisher
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle D Williams
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Pathology, Houston, Texas
| | - Ignacio I Wistuba
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Houston, Texas
| | - Steven G Waguespack
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Houston, Texas
| | - Clark M Dorman
- University of Texas at Houston Medical School, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle S Ludwig
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, Houston, Texas
| | - Paul H Graham
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas
| | - Nancy D Perrier
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey E Lee
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas
| | - Elizabeth G Grubbs
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Surgical Oncology, Houston, Texas.
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Khan MS, Qadri Q, Makhdoomi MJ, Wani MA, Malik AA, Niyaz M, Masoodi SR, Andrabi KI, Ahmad R, Mudassar S. RET/PTC Gene Rearrangements in Thyroid Carcinogenesis: Assessment and Clinico-Pathological Correlations. Pathol Oncol Res 2018; 26:507-513. [PMID: 30467698 DOI: 10.1007/s12253-018-0540-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Rearranged during transfection (RET) is a proto oncogene implicated in thyroid carcinogenesis of papillary type (PTC). The RET proto-oncogene in PTC is constitutively activated by fusion of its tyrosine kinase domain with the 5 ´region of another gene thereby generating chimeric products collectively named RET/PTCs. RET/PTC1 and RET/PTC3 are best characterized among all RET/PTC rearrangements. Kashmir valley has witnessed an alarming increase in thyroid cancer incidence in young women. Therefore, we investigated the occurrence of RET/PTC 1 & 3 rearrangements by semi quantitative and qPCR in thyroid cancer patients (n = 48) of Kashmiri population and interrelated results with various clinicopathological characteristics. We observed that all the RET/PTC rearrangements were confined to PTC cases (10/40). Presence of RET/PTC rearrangement significantly correlated with gender, elevated TSH levels and lymph node metastasis. Overall, our study advocates that RET/PTC3 rearrangement is a frequent event in the carcinogenesis of thyroid gland in Kashmiri population although a study with a larger sample size is needed to get a clear scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mosin S Khan
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India
| | - Qurteeba Qadri
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India
| | - Mudasir J Makhdoomi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India
| | - Muneer A Wani
- Department of General and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, 190011, India
| | - Aejaz A Malik
- Department of General and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, 190011, India
| | - Madiha Niyaz
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India
| | - Shariq R Masoodi
- Department of Endocrinology, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, 190011, India
| | - Khurshid I Andrabi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Kashmir, Hazratbal, Srinagar, 190006, India
| | - Rauf Ahmad
- Department of ENT, SMHS Govt. Superspeciality Hospital, Karan Nagar, Srinagar, 190010, India
| | - Syed Mudassar
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Sher-I-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, Srinagar, Kashmir, 190011, India.
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Giordano TJ. 65 YEARS OF THE DOUBLE HELIX: Classification of endocrine tumors in the age of integrated genomics. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T171-T187. [PMID: 29980645 DOI: 10.1530/erc-18-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The classification of human cancers represents one of the cornerstones of modern pathology. Over the last century, surgical pathologists established the current taxonomy of neoplasia using traditional histopathological parameters, which include tumor architecture, cytological features and cellular proliferation. This morphological classification is efficient and robust with high reproducibility and has served patients and health care providers well. The most recent decade has witnessed an explosion of genome-wide molecular genetic and epigenetic data for most cancers, including tumors of endocrine organs. The availability of this expansive multi-dimensional genomic data, collectively termed the cancer genome, has catalyzed a re-examination of the classification of endocrine tumors. Here, recent cancer genome studies of various endocrine tumors, including those of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands, pancreas, small bowel, lung and skin, are presented with special emphasis on how genomic insights are impacting endocrine tumor classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J Giordano
- Divisions of Anatomic Pathology and Molecular & Genomic PathologyDepartments of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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36
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Rajabi S, Hedayati M. Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Clinical Characteristics and New Insights into Therapeutic Strategies Targeting Tyrosine Kinases. Mol Diagn Ther 2018; 21:607-620. [PMID: 28698976 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-017-0289-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a hyperplasia of thyroid C-cells, accounting for 5-10% of all thyroid cancers. MTCs may appear as sporadic or hereditary forms, and several molecules and signaling pathways have been found to function defectively in MTC cells. Tyrosine kinases are the most well-studied molecules that have abnormal function in these tumor cells. Due to their limited response, chemotherapeutic agents and radiation therapy are not effective in treating patients with advanced metastatic MTC. In the past decade, significant attention has been given to the utilization of multikinase inhibitors as targeted therapeutic agents for treating MTC patients, with the most promising results arising from the study of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which generally bind to the ATP binding sites of these kinases. Two drugs-vandetanib and cabozantinib-are approved for the treatment of aggressive advanced MTC; however, the potential for toxicities and adverse effects of these agents on patient quality of life need to be considered against any therapeutic gain. According to recent data, it appears that inhibition of only one receptor or molecule in a pathway is not as effective as simultaneous inhibition of different pathways, indicating the need to use combination therapy. The main purpose of this review is to describe the clinical characteristics, molecular mechanisms, and current molecular and targeted therapeutic strategies active in clinical trials for advanced MTC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Rajabi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Hedayati
- Cellular and Molecular Endocrine Research Center, Research Institute for Endocrine Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Zhan S, Li J, Wang T, Ge W. Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Sporadic Medullary Thyroid Cancer Reveals FN1 as a Potential Novel Candidate Prognostic Biomarker. Oncologist 2018; 23:1415-1425. [PMID: 29739896 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2017-0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor. Currently, although the diagnosis of sporadic MTC is relatively simple, the need to discover novel candidate prognostic biomarkers for sporadic MTC and investigate the underlying mechanism involved in this rare disease is urgent. MATERIALS AND METHODS We employed tandem mass tag-based liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and analyze differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in sporadic MTC. Western blotting was used to validate the DEPs. Immunohistochemistry was performed to investigate FN1 and RPS6KA3 in an independent set of sporadic MTC tissues. Immunohistochemical data were analyzed by different statistical methods. RESULTS Three hundred eighty-eight DEPs were identified in mass spectrometry, mainly involved in the extracellular matrix, cytoskeletal remodeling, or oxidoreductase activity. Among them, THBS1, MMP9, FN1, RPS6KA3, SYT1, and carcinoembryonic antigen were successfully validated by Western blot. In addition, FN1 and RPS6KA3, enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, respectively, were investigated in an independent set of sporadic MTC tissues. Receiver-operator characteristic curve analysis showed that FN1 and RPS6KA3 can be used for discriminating sporadic MTC tumorous tissues from paired normal thyroid tissues, and the clinical biomarker calcitonin was positively correlated with FN1 and RPS6KA3 in tumorous tissues. Furthermore, the immunohistochemical scores of FN1 in tumorous tissue showed an inverse relationship with tumor classification, lymph node classification, and American Joint Committee on Cancer stage. Through univariate and multivariate analysis for progression-free survival, we also found that low FN1 expression in tumorous tissues was an independent worse prognostic factor for progression-free survival. CONCLUSION We identified that the pathophysiology of sporadic MTC involve numerous pathways, including the synaptic vesicle pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the ECM remodeling pathway. Furthermore, our study also identified FN1 as novel prognostic biomarkers related to the pathophysiologic changes in sporadic MTC. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Proteomic dissection and prognostic biomarkers are scarce in sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). This article reports the use of proteomics technology to comprehensively investigate the molecular mechanisms of sporadic MTC, which resulted in the identification of FN1 as a novel candidate prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohua Zhan
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of Immunology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinming Li
- National Center for Clinical Laboratories, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianxiao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Ge
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, National Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology & Department of Immunology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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38
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Genetic diagnosis of a Chinese multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A family through whole genome sequencing. J Biosci 2018; 42:209-218. [PMID: 28569245 DOI: 10.1007/s12038-017-9686-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Approximately 98% of patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) have an identifiable RET mutation. Prophylactic or early total thyroidectomy or pheochromocytoma/parathyroid removal in patients can be preventative or curative and has become standard management. The general strategy for RET screening on family members at risk is to sequence the most commonly affected exons and, if negative, to extend sequencing to additional exons. However, different families with MEN 2A due to the same RET mutation often have significant variability in the clinical exhibition of disease and aggressiveness of the MTC, which implies additional genetic loci exsit beyond RET coding region. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) greatly expands the breadth of screening from genes associated with a particular disease to the whole genome and, potentially, all the information that the genome contains about diseases or traits. This is presumably due to additive effect of disease modifying factors. In this study, we performed WGS on a typical Chinese MEN 2A proband and identified the pathogenic RET p.C634R mutation. We also identified several neutral variants within RET and pheochromocytoma-related genes. Moreover, we found several interesting structural variants including genetic deletions (RSPO1, OVCH2 and AP3S1, etc.) and fusion transcripts (FSIP1-BAZ2A, etc.).
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene fusions are known in many cancers as driver or passenger mutations. They play an important role in both the etiology and pathogenesis of cancer and are considered as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers and possible therapeutic targets. The spectrum and prevalence of gene fusions in thyroid cancer ranges from single cases up to 80%, depending on the specific type of cancer. During last three years, massive parallel sequencing technologies have revealed new fusions and allowed detailed characteristics of fusions in different types of thyroid cancer. SUMMARY This article reviews all known fusions and their prevalence in papillary, poorly differentiated and anaplastic, follicular, and medullary carcinomas. The mechanisms of fusion formation are described. In addition, the mechanisms of oncogenic transformation, such as altered gene expression, forced oligomerization, and subcellular localization, are given. CONCLUSION The prognostic value and perspectives of the utilization of gene fusions as therapeutic targets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina D Yakushina
- 1 Research Centre for Medical Genetics , Moscow, Russian Federation
- 2 Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology , Moscow, Russian Federation
| | | | - Alexander V Lavrov
- 1 Research Centre for Medical Genetics , Moscow, Russian Federation
- 4 Russian National Research Medical University , Moscow, Russian Federation
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40
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Abstract
Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a relatively uncommon yet prognostically significant thyroid cancer. Several recent advances in the biology and current or potential treatment of MTC are notable. These include a new understanding of the developmental biology of the thyroid C cell, which heretofore was thought to develop from the neural crest. RET, encoded by the most common driver gene in MTC, has been shown to be a dual function kinase, thus expanding its potential substrate repertoire. Promising new therapeutic developments are occurring; many have recently progressed to clinical development. There are new insights into RET inhibitor therapy for MTC. New strategies are being developed to inhibit the RAS proteins, which are potential therapeutic targets in MTC. Potential emerging immunotherapies for MTC are discussed. However, gaps in our knowledge of the basic biology of the C cell, its transformation to MTC, and the mechanisms of resistance to therapy impede progress; further research in these areas would have a substantial impact on the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry Nelkin
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
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41
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Identification of a novel partner gene, KIAA1217, fused to RET: Functional characterization and inhibitor sensitivity of two isoforms in lung adenocarcinoma. Oncotarget 2017; 7:36101-36114. [PMID: 27150058 PMCID: PMC5094986 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
REarranged during Transfection (RET) fusion genes are detected in approximately 1% of lung adenocarcinomas and known primarily as oncogenic driver factors. Here, we found a novel RET fusion gene, KIAA1217-RET, and examined the functional differences of RET51 and RET9 protein, fused with KIAA1217 in cancer progression and drug response. KIAA1217-RET, resulting from the rearrangement of chromosome 10, was generated by the fusion of KIAA1217 exon 11 and RET exon 11 from a non-small cell lung cancer patient. Expression of this gene led to increased cell growth and invasive properties through activations of the PI3K/AKT and ERK signaling pathways and subsequently enabled oncogenic transformation of lung cells. We observed that cells expressing KIAA1217-RET9 fusion protein were more sensitive to vandetanib than those expressing KIAA1217-RET51 and both isoforms attenuated cellular growth via cell cycle arrest. These results demonstrated that KIAA1217-RET fusion represents a novel oncogenic driver gene, the products of which are sensitive to vandetanib treatment, and suggested that the KIAA1217-RET-fusion gene is a promising target for lung cancer treatment.
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42
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Sponziello M, Benvenuti S, Gentile A, Pecce V, Rosignolo F, Virzì AR, Milan M, Comoglio PM, Londin E, Fortina P, Barnabei A, Appetecchia M, Marandino F, Russo D, Filetti S, Durante C, Verrienti A. Whole exome sequencing identifies a germline MET mutation in two siblings with hereditary wild-type RET medullary thyroid cancer. Hum Mutat 2017; 39:371-377. [PMID: 29219214 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2017] [Revised: 11/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Whole exome sequencing (WES) was used to investigate two Italian siblings with wild-type RET genotype, who developed medullary thyroid cancers (MTCs) and, later, primary prostate and breast cancers, respectively. The proband's MTC harbored a p.Met918Thr RET mutation; his sister's MTC was RET/RAS wild-type. Both siblings had a germline mutation (p.Arg417Gln) in the extracellular Sema domain of the proto-oncogene MET. Experiments involving ectopic expression of MET p.Arg417Gln in MET-negative T47D breast cancer cells documented the mutant receptor's functionality and its ability to enhance cell migration and invasion. Our findings highlight a possible link between MET germline mutations and MTCs and suggest that MET p. Arg417Gln may promote an invasive malignant phenotype. The possibility that MTC can be driven/co-driven by a MET mutation has potential management implications, since the tyrosine-kinase inhibitor cabozantinib-approved for treating advanced MTCs-is a specific MET inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Sponziello
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Benvenuti
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Alessandra Gentile
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Valeria Pecce
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Rosignolo
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Rita Virzì
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Turin, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Melissa Milan
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo M Comoglio
- Molecular Therapeutics and Exploratory Research, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO, IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Eric Londin
- Computational Medicine Center, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Paolo Fortina
- Cancer Genomics Laboratory, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Department of Cancer Biology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Barnabei
- Unit of Endocrinology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Diego Russo
- Department of Health Sciences, "Magna Graecia" University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Filetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Cosimo Durante
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Verrienti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Chen Z, Zhao Y, Yu Y, Pang JC, Woodfield SE, Tao L, Guan S, Zhang H, Bieerkehazhi S, Shi Y, Patel R, Vasudevan SA, Yi JS, Muscal JA, Xu GT, Yang J. Small molecule inhibitor regorafenib inhibits RET signaling in neuroblastoma cells and effectively suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Oncotarget 2017; 8:104090-104103. [PMID: 29262623 PMCID: PMC5732789 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial pediatric solid tumor, continues to cause significant cancer-related morbidity and mortality in children. Dysregulation of oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) has been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis in various human cancers and targeting these RTKs has had therapeutic benefit. RET is an RTK which is commonly expressed in NB, and high expression of RET correlates with poor outcomes in patients with NB. Herein we report that RET is required for NB cell proliferation and that the small molecule inhibitor regorafenib (BAY 73-4506) blocks glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-induced RET signaling in NB cells and inhibits NB growth both in vitro and in vivo. We found that regorafenib significantly inhibited cell proliferation and colony formation ability of NB cells. Moreover, regorafenib suppressed tumor growth in both an orthotopic xenograft NB mouse model and a TH-MYCN transgenic NB mouse model. Finally, regorafenib markedly improved the overall survival of TH-MYCN transgenic tumor-bearing mice. In summary, our study suggests that RET is a potential therapeutic target in NB, and that using a novel RET inhibitor, like regorafenib, should be investigated as a therapeutic treatment option for children with NB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenghu Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, P. R. China
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yanling Zhao
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yang Yu
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan C. Pang
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
- Department of Biosciences, Weiss School of Natural Sciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Sarah E. Woodfield
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ling Tao
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shan Guan
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Huiyuan Zhang
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Shayahati Bieerkehazhi
- Department of Labour Hygiene and Sanitary Science, College of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang 830011, P.R. China
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Yan Shi
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Roma Patel
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Sanjeev A. Vasudevan
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Joanna S. Yi
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Jodi A. Muscal
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Guo-Tong Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, P. R. China
| | - Jianhua Yang
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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44
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Targeting RET-driven cancers: lessons from evolving preclinical and clinical landscapes. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2017; 15:151-167. [PMID: 29134959 DOI: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The gene encoding the receptor-tyrosine kinase RET was first discovered more than three decades ago, and activating RET rearrangements and mutations have since been identified as actionable drivers of oncogenesis. Several multikinase inhibitors with activity against RET have been explored in the clinic, and confirmed responses to targeted therapy with these agents have been observed in patients with RET-rearranged lung cancers or RET-mutant thyroid cancers. Nevertheless, response rates to RET-directed therapy are modest compared with those achieved using targeted therapies matched to other oncogenic drivers of solid tumours, such as sensitizing EGFR or BRAFV600E mutations, or ALK or ROS1 rearrangements. To date, no RET-directed targeted therapeutic has received regulatory approval for the treatment of molecularly defined populations of patients with RET-mutant or RET-rearranged solid tumours. In this Review, we discuss how emerging data have informed the debate over whether the limited success of multikinase inhibitors with activity against RET can be attributed to the tractability of RET as a drug target or to the lack, until 2017, of highly specific inhibitors of this oncoprotein in the clinic. We emphasize that novel approaches to targeting RET-dependent tumours are necessary to improve the clinical efficacy of single-agent multikinase inhibition and, thus, hasten approvals of RET-directed targeted therapies.
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45
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Watanabe-Smith K, Godil J, Agarwal A, Tognon C, Druker B. Analysis of acquired mutations in transgenes arising in Ba/F3 transformation assays: findings and recommendations. Oncotarget 2017; 8:12596-12606. [PMID: 28208123 PMCID: PMC5355038 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.15392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification and functional validation of potentially oncogenic mutations in leukemia is an essential step toward a future of personalized targeted therapy. To assess the oncogenic capacity of individual mutations, reliable and scalable in vitro experimental approaches are required. Since 1988, researchers have used the IL-3 dependent Ba/F3 transformation assay to validate the oncogenic potential of mutations to drive factor-independent growth. Here we report a previously unrecognized phenomenon whereby Ba/F3 cells, engineered to express weakly transforming mutations, present with additional acquired mutations in the expressed transgene following factor withdrawal. Using four mutations with known transformative capacity in three cytokine receptors (CSF2RB, CSF3R and IL7R), we demonstrate that the mutated receptors are highly susceptible to acquiring additional mutations. These acquired mutations of unknown functional significance are selected by factor withdrawal but appear to exist prior to the removal of growth factor. This anomaly has the potential to confound efforts to both validate and characterize oncogenic mutations in leukemia, particularly when it is not standard practice to sequence validate cDNAs from transformed Ba/F3 lines. We present specific recommendations to detect and mitigate this phenomenon in future research using Ba/F3 transformation assays, along with methods to make the Ba/F3 assay more quantitative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Watanabe-Smith
- Cancer Biology Program, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jamila Godil
- Honors College, College of Science, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Anupriya Agarwal
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.,Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Cristina Tognon
- Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Brian Druker
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Portland, OR, USA
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46
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De Falco V, Carlomagno F, Li HY, Santoro M. The molecular basis for RET tyrosine-kinase inhibitors in thyroid cancer. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2017; 31:307-318. [PMID: 28911727 PMCID: PMC5624797 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2017.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RET receptor tyrosine kinase acts as a mutated oncogenic driver in several human malignancies and it is over-expressed in other cancers. Small molecule compounds with RET tyrosine kinase inhibitory activity are being investigated for the targeted treatment of these malignancies. Multi-targeted compounds with RET inhibitory concentration in the nanomolar range have entered clinical practice. This review summarizes mechanisms of RET oncogenic activity and properties of new compounds that, at the preclinical stage, have demonstrated promising anti-RET activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina De Falco
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Francesca Carlomagno
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Federico II, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Hong-Yu Li
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmaceutical Science, 200 South Cedar, Little Rock AR 72202, USA.
| | - Massimo Santoro
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università Federico II, Via S Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
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47
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Lu H, Villafane N, Dogruluk T, Grzeskowiak CL, Kong K, Tsang YH, Zagorodna O, Pantazi A, Yang L, Neill NJ, Kim YW, Creighton CJ, Verhaak RG, Mills GB, Park PJ, Kucherlapati R, Scott KL. Engineering and Functional Characterization of Fusion Genes Identifies Novel Oncogenic Drivers of Cancer. Cancer Res 2017; 77:3502-3512. [PMID: 28512244 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-16-2745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Oncogenic gene fusions drive many human cancers, but tools to more quickly unravel their functional contributions are needed. Here we describe methodology permitting fusion gene construction for functional evaluation. Using this strategy, we engineered the known fusion oncogenes, BCR-ABL1, EML4-ALK, and ETV6-NTRK3, as well as 20 previously uncharacterized fusion genes identified in The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets. In addition to confirming oncogenic activity of the known fusion oncogenes engineered by our construction strategy, we validated five novel fusion genes involving MET, NTRK2, and BRAF kinases that exhibited potent transforming activity and conferred sensitivity to FDA-approved kinase inhibitors. Our fusion construction strategy also enabled domain-function studies of BRAF fusion genes. Our results confirmed other reports that the transforming activity of BRAF fusions results from truncation-mediated loss of inhibitory domains within the N-terminus of the BRAF protein. BRAF mutations residing within this inhibitory region may provide a means for BRAF activation in cancer, therefore we leveraged the modular design of our fusion gene construction methodology to screen N-terminal domain mutations discovered in tumors that are wild-type at the BRAF mutation hotspot, V600. We identified an oncogenic mutation, F247L, whose expression robustly activated the MAPK pathway and sensitized cells to BRAF and MEK inhibitors. When applied broadly, these tools will facilitate rapid fusion gene construction for subsequent functional characterization and translation into personalized treatment strategies. Cancer Res; 77(13); 3502-12. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengyu Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nicole Villafane
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Turgut Dogruluk
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Caitlin L Grzeskowiak
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kathleen Kong
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yiu Huen Tsang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Oksana Zagorodna
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Angeliki Pantazi
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Lixing Yang
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicholas J Neill
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Young Won Kim
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Roel G Verhaak
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Peter J Park
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Biomedical Informatics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Raju Kucherlapati
- Division of Genetics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth L Scott
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. .,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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48
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Colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas are genetically closely related to colorectal adenocarcinomas. Mod Pathol 2017; 30:610-619. [PMID: 28059096 DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2016.220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas are rare and clinically aggressive neoplasms with considerable morphological heterogeneity. Data on their genomic characteristics and molecular associations to either conventional colorectal adenocarcinomas or poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms is still scarce, hampering optimized patient treatment and care. Tissue from 19 colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas and eight colorectal poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasms (neuroendocrine carcinomas) was microdissected and subjected to next-generation sequencing using a colorectal adenocarcinoma-specific panel comprising 196 amplicons covering 32 genes linked to colorectal adenocarcinoma, and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine neoplasm tumorigenesis. Mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas were also examined for microsatellite instability and MLH-1 promoter methylation status. In three mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas, exocrine and endocrine components were analyzed separately. Genetic testing of colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas identified 43 somatic mutations clustering in 13/32 genes. Sixteen (84%) tumors harbored at least one somatic mutation, two tumors (11%) displayed high microsatellite instability. Compared with colorectal adenocarcinomas, mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas were more frequently BRAF (37%; P=0.006), and less frequently KRAS (21%; P=0.043) and APC (16%; P=0.001) mutated. Point mutations in neuroendocrine neoplasm-related genes like RB1 or RET were not detected, but one tumor harbored a heterozygous RB1 deletion. Separately analyzed adenocarcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinoma components revealed a shared mutational trunk of driver genes involved in colorectal adenocarcinoma carcinogenesis. Colorectal neuroendocrine carcinomas were similar in their mutation profile to colorectal adenocarcinomas, but compared with mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas, had a higher rate of APC mutations (P=0.027). Our data indicate that colorectal mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas and neuroendocrine carcinomas are genetically closely related to colorectal adenocarcinomas, suggesting that the cells giving rise to these tumors primarily have an intestinal coinage. The identification of BRAF mutations and the frequently present KRAS wild-type status principally render some mixed adenoneuroendocrine carcinomas eligible to targeted treatment strategies used for colorectal adenocarcinomas.
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49
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Vanden Borre P, Schrock AB, Anderson PM, Morris JC, Heilmann AM, Holmes O, Wang K, Johnson A, Waguespack SG, Ou SHI, Khan S, Fung KM, Stephens PJ, Erlich RL, Miller VA, Ross JS, Ali SM. Pediatric, Adolescent, and Young Adult Thyroid Carcinoma Harbors Frequent and Diverse Targetable Genomic Alterations, Including Kinase Fusions. Oncologist 2017; 22:255-263. [PMID: 28209747 DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2016-0279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 10/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thyroid carcinoma, which is rare in pediatric patients (age 0-18 years) but more common in adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients (age 15-39 years), carries the potential for morbidity and mortality. METHODS Hybrid-capture-based comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) was performed prospectively on 512 consecutively submitted thyroid carcinomas, including 58 from pediatric and AYA (PAYA) patients, to identify genomic alterations (GAs), including base substitutions, insertions/deletions, copy number alterations, and rearrangements. This PAYA data series includes 41 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), 3 with anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), and 14 with medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). RESULTS GAs were detected in 93% (54/58) of PAYA cases, with a mean of 1.4 GAs per case. In addition to BRAF V600E mutations, detected in 46% (19/41) of PAYA PTC cases and in 1 of 3 AYA ATC cases, oncogenic fusions involving RET, NTRK1, NTRK3, and ALK were detected in 37% (15/41) of PAYA PTC and 33% (1/3) of AYA ATC cases. Ninety-three percent (13/14) of MTC patients harbored RET alterations, including 3 novel insertions/deletions in exons 6 and 11. Two of these MTC patients with novel alterations in RET experienced clinical benefit from vandetanib treatment. CONCLUSION CGP identified diverse clinically relevant GAs in PAYA patients with thyroid carcinoma, including 83% (34/41) of PTC cases harboring activating kinase mutations or activating kinase rearrangements. These genomic observations and index cases exhibiting clinical benefit from targeted therapy suggest that young patients with advanced thyroid carcinoma can benefit from CGP and rationally matched targeted therapy. The Oncologist 2017;22:255-263 IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The detection of diverse clinically relevant genomic alterations in the majority of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult patients with thyroid carcinoma in this study suggests that comprehensive genomic profiling may be beneficial for young patients with papillary, anaplastic, or medullary thyroid carcinoma, particularly for advanced or refractory cases for which clinical trials involving molecularly targeted therapies may be appropriate.
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MESH Headings
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/genetics
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine/pathology
- Carcinoma, Papillary/genetics
- Carcinoma, Papillary/pathology
- DNA Copy Number Variations/genetics
- Female
- Gene Rearrangement/genetics
- Genome, Human/genetics
- Genomics
- Humans
- INDEL Mutation/genetics
- Male
- Molecular Targeted Therapy
- Mutation
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics
- Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/isolation & purification
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf/genetics
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/genetics
- Thyroid Carcinoma, Anaplastic/pathology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
- Young Adult
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Kai Wang
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | - Saad Khan
- University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kar-Ming Fung
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jeffrey S Ross
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Siraj M Ali
- Foundation Medicine, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Fagin
- From the Department of Medicine and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York (J.A.F.); and the Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (S.A.W.)
| | - Samuel A Wells
- From the Department of Medicine and Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York (J.A.F.); and the Genetics Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (S.A.W.)
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