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Gambella A, Senetta R, Collemi G, Vallero SG, Monticelli M, Cofano F, Zeppa P, Garbossa D, Pellerino A, Rudà R, Soffietti R, Fagioli F, Papotti M, Cassoni P, Bertero L. NTRK Fusions in Central Nervous System Tumors: A Rare, but Worthy Target. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21030753. [PMID: 31979374 PMCID: PMC7037946 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21030753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) genes (NTRK1, NTRK2, and NTRK3) code for three transmembrane high-affinity tyrosine-kinase receptors for nerve growth factors (TRK-A, TRK-B, and TRK-C) which are mainly involved in nervous system development. Loss of function alterations in these genes can lead to nervous system development problems; conversely, activating alterations harbor oncogenic potential, promoting cell proliferation/survival and tumorigenesis. Chromosomal rearrangements are the most clinically relevant alterations of pathological NTRK activation, leading to constitutionally active chimeric receptors. NTRK fusions have been detected with extremely variable frequencies in many pediatric and adult cancer types, including central nervous system (CNS) tumors. These alterations can be detected by different laboratory assays (e.g., immunohistochemistry, FISH, sequencing), but each of these approaches has specific advantages and limitations which must be taken into account for an appropriate use in diagnostics or research. Moreover, therapeutic targeting of this molecular marker recently showed extreme efficacy. Considering the overall lack of effective treatments for brain neoplasms, it is expected that detection of NTRK fusions will soon become a mainstay in the diagnostic assessment of CNS tumors, and thus in-depth knowledge regarding this topic is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Gambella
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.G.); (G.C.)
| | - Rebecca Senetta
- Pathology Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Giammarco Collemi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.G.); (G.C.)
| | - Stefano Gabriele Vallero
- Pediatric Onco-Hematology Unit, Department of Pediatric and Public Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (S.G.V.); (F.F.)
| | - Matteo Monticelli
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (M.M.); (F.C.); (P.Z.); (D.G.)
| | - Fabio Cofano
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (M.M.); (F.C.); (P.Z.); (D.G.)
| | - Pietro Zeppa
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (M.M.); (F.C.); (P.Z.); (D.G.)
| | - Diego Garbossa
- Neurosurgery Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (M.M.); (F.C.); (P.Z.); (D.G.)
| | - Alessia Pellerino
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University and City of Health and Science Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.P.); (R.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Roberta Rudà
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University and City of Health and Science Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.P.); (R.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Riccardo Soffietti
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, University and City of Health and Science Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.P.); (R.R.); (R.S.)
| | - Franca Fagioli
- Pediatric Onco-Hematology Unit, Department of Pediatric and Public Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (S.G.V.); (F.F.)
| | - Mauro Papotti
- Pathology Unit, Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (R.S.); (M.P.)
| | - Paola Cassoni
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.G.); (G.C.)
| | - Luca Bertero
- Pathology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy; (A.G.); (G.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-633-5466
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