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Zito Marino F, Buono S, Montella M, Giannatiempo R, Messina F, Casaretta G, Arpino G, Vita G, Fiorentino F, Insabato L, Sgambato A, Orditura M, Franco R, Accardo M. NTRK gene aberrations in triple-negative breast cancer: detection challenges using IHC, FISH, RT-PCR, and NGS. J Pathol Clin Res 2023; 9:367-377. [PMID: 37143440 PMCID: PMC10397374 DOI: 10.1002/cjp2.324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is usually an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. The neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are cancer type-agnostic emerging biomarkers approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), USA, for the selection of patients for targeted therapy. The main aim of our study was to investigate the frequency of NTRK aberrations, i.e. fusions, gene copy number gain, and amplification, in a series of TNBC using different methods. A total of 83 TNBCs were analyzed using pan-TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and RNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). Of 83 cases, 16 showed pan-TRK positivity although no cases had NTRK-fusions. Indeed, FISH showed four cases carrying an atypical NTRK1 pattern consisting of one fusion signal and one/more single green signals, but all cases were negative for fusion by NGS and RT-PCR testing. In addition, FISH analysis showed six cases with NTRK1 amplification, one case with NTRK2 copy number gain, and five cases with NTRK3 copy number gain, all negative for pan-TRK IHC. Our data demonstrate that IHC has a high false-positive rate for the detection of fusions and molecular testing is mandatory; there is no need to perform additional molecular tests in cases negativity for NTRK by IHC. In conclusion, the NTRK genes are not involved in fusions in TNBC, but both copy number gain and amplification are frequent events, suggesting a possible predictive role for other NTRK aberrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Zito Marino
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Simona Buono
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Marco Montella
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | | | | | | | - Grazia Arpino
- Department of Clinical Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of Naples Federico IINaplesItaly
| | - Giulia Vita
- Anatomical Pathology Department, IRCCS CROBRionero in VultureItaly
| | | | - Luigi Insabato
- Department of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Pathology SectionUniversity of Naples “Federico II”NaplesItaly
| | - Alessandro Sgambato
- Scientific Direction, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico della Basilicata (IRCCS‐CROB)Rionero in VultureItaly
| | - Michele Orditura
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Precision Medicine, School of MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Renato Franco
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
| | - Marina Accardo
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive MedicineUniversity of Campania “L. Vanvitelli”NaplesItaly
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Wang B, Song Y, Chen Z, Su X, Yang X, Wei Z, Chen J, Chen C, Li M. A retrospective study of postoperative targeted therapy in ALK-positive lung cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8317. [PMID: 37221218 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34397-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we aim to investigate the therapeutic effect and safety of ALK inhibitor in ALK-positive lung cancer patients. 59 patients with ALK-positive lung cancer from August 2013 to August 2022 were retrospectively recruited. The basic information, pathological type, clinical stage and treatment strategy were collected. These patients were divided into two groups, including 29 patients of conventional adjuvant chemotherapy, and 30 cases of targeted therapy. The patients in the targeted therapy group underwent adjuvant targeted therapy with crizotinib for 2 years. The observation indicators include curative effects and adverse events. The disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were also analyzed. We analyzed the pathological stages after adjuvant chemotherapy and targeted therapy in lung cancer, no significant difference in the p stage N and T was found between the two therapeutic groups. However, the DFS events, DFS median time and OS median time showed significant improvement in the targeted therapy group when compared with adjuvant chemotherapy (all P < 0.05). Besides, the patients under both therapeutic regimens presented some adverse events, among them elevated aspartate transaminase/alanine aminotransferase was the most common adverse event in all the patients, followed by nausea and vomiting. Our study identified that crizotinib-based postoperative targeted therapy helps improve the prognosis of patients with ALK-positive lung cancer, confirming that postoperative targeted therapy can be considered an effective and feasible therapeutic alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Yang Song
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Zhuo Chen
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Xiaona Su
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of Pathology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Zhi Wei
- Information Section, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400042, China
| | - Junxia Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Chuan Chen
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China.
| | - Mengxia Li
- Department of Oncology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, No. 10, Changjiang Branch Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400042, China.
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Circulating tumor cell copy-number heterogeneity in ALK-rearranged non-small-cell lung cancer resistant to ALK inhibitors. NPJ Precis Oncol 2021; 5:67. [PMID: 34272470 PMCID: PMC8285416 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-021-00203-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Gatekeeper mutations are identified in only 50% of the cases at resistance to Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase (ALK)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are relevant tools to identify additional resistance mechanisms and can be sequenced at the single-cell level. Here, we provide in-depth investigation of copy number alteration (CNA) heterogeneity in phenotypically characterized CTCs at resistance to ALK-TKIs in ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. Single CTC isolation and phenotyping were performed by DEPArray or fluorescence-activated cell sorting following enrichment and immunofluorescence staining (ALK/cytokeratins/CD45/Hoechst). CNA heterogeneity was evaluated in six ALK-rearranged patients harboring ≥ 10 CTCs/20 mL blood at resistance to 1st and 3rd ALK-TKIs and one presented gatekeeper mutations. Out of 82 CTCs isolated by FACS, 30 (37%) were ALK+/cytokeratins-, 46 (56%) ALK-/cytokeratins+ and 4 (5%) ALK+/cytokeratins+. Sequencing of 43 CTCs showed highly altered CNA profiles and high levels of chromosomal instability (CIN). Half of CTCs displayed a ploidy >2n and 32% experienced whole-genome doubling. Hierarchical clustering showed significant intra-patient and wide inter-patient CTC diversity. Classification of 121 oncogenic drivers revealed the predominant activation of cell cycle and DNA repair pathways and of RTK/RAS and PI3K to a lower frequency. CTCs showed wide CNA heterogeneity and elevated CIN at resistance to ALK-TKIs. The emergence of epithelial ALK-negative CTCs may drive resistance through activation of bypass signaling pathways, while ALK-rearranged CTCs showed epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition characteristics potentially contributing to ALK-TKI resistance. Comprehensive analysis of CTCs could be of great help to clinicians for precision medicine and resistance to ALK-targeted therapies.
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Elsers D, Temerik DF, Attia AM, Hadia A, Hussien MT. Prognostic role of ALK-1 and h-TERT expression in glioblastoma multiforme: correlation with ALK gene alterations. J Pathol Transl Med 2021; 55:212-224. [PMID: 33966367 PMCID: PMC8141971 DOI: 10.4132/jptm.2021.03.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is expressed in the developing central and peripheral nervous systems during embryogenesis. Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (h-TERT) protein resumption is the main process of preservation of telomeres that maintains DNA integrity. The present study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of ALK-1 and h-TERT protein expression and their correlation with ALK gene alterations in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods The current study is a retrospective study on a cohort of patients with GBM (n = 53) that attempted to detect ALK gene alterations using fluorescence in situ hybridization. ALK-1 and h-TERT proteins were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Results Score 3 ALK-1 expression was significantly associated with male sex, tumor multiplicity, Ki labeling index (Ki LI), and type of therapeutic modality. Score 3 h-TERT expression exhibited a significant association with Ki LI. ALK gene amplifications (ALK-A) were significantly associated with increased Ki LI and therapeutic modalities. Score 3 ALK-1 protein expression, score 3 h-TERT protein expression, and ALK-A were associated with poor overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Multivariate analysis for OS revealed that ALK gene alterations were an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. Conclusions High protein expression of both ALK-1 and h-TERT, as well as ALK-A had a poor impact on the prognosis of GBM. Further studies are needed to establish the underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Elsers
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Doaa F Temerik
- Department of Clinical Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Alia M Attia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - A Hadia
- Department of Medical Oncology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Marwa T Hussien
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, South Egypt Cancer Institute, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
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Otte J, Dyberg C, Pepich A, Johnsen JI. MYCN Function in Neuroblastoma Development. Front Oncol 2021; 10:624079. [PMID: 33585251 PMCID: PMC7873735 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.624079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated expression of the transcription factor MYCN is frequently detected in nervous system tumors such as childhood neuroblastoma. Here, gene amplification of MYCN is a single oncogenic driver inducing neoplastic transformation in neural crest-derived cells. This abnormal MYCN expression is one of the strongest predictors of poor prognosis. It is present at diagnosis and is never acquired during later tumorigenesis of MYCN non-amplified neuroblastoma. This suggests that increased MYCN expression is an early event in these cancers leading to a peculiar dysregulation of cells that results in embryonal or cancer stem-like qualities, such as increased self-renewal, apoptotic resistance, and metabolic flexibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jörg Otte
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Children's and Women's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Dyberg
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Children's and Women's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adena Pepich
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Children's and Women's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Inge Johnsen
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Children's and Women's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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