NTRK fusion positive colorectal cancer as a unique subset of CRC with high tumor mutation burden and microsatellite instability.

Authors

null

Hui WANG

Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China

Hui WANG , Qiuxiang Ou , Xue Wu , Misako Nagasaka , Sai-Hong Ignatius Ou , Yang Shao

Organizations

Department of Medical Oncology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology; Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China, Nanjing Geneseeq Technology Inc., Nanjing, China, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Irvine, Orange, CA, Geneseeq Technology Inc, Nanjing, ON, China

Research Funding

No funding received
None

Background: Neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) gene fusions are rare but actionable oncogenic drivers that are present in a wide variety of solid tumors. This study aims to identify the frequency and the clinicopathologic and genetic features of NTRK-driven colorectal cancers (CRC). Methods: Colonic and rectal tumor DNA specimen from colorectal cancer patients submitted for molecular profiling at a CLIA-certified genomics laboratory in China that performed NTRK1/2/3 fusion detection by hybridization-based targeted next generation sequencing (NGS) were retrospectively reviewed. Patients’ demographic, clinical characteristics, and treatment history were retrieved from the database for further evaluation. Results: A total of 2,519 unique Chinese colorectal cancer cases were profiled from April 2016 to May 2020, and 17 NTRK+ fusion events were identified (0.7%, 17/2,519) consisting of 14 cases of NTRK1+ and 3 cases of NTRK3+ fusions. Furthermore, thirteen out of 17 NTRK+ CRC tumors (76%) were microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) tumors, a much higher rate than that of the molecularly unselected CRC population (8%) or NTRK+ non-CRC tumors ( < 1%). NTRK+ CRC patients also had increased tumor mutation burden (median TMB = 65 mut/MB) compared to that of non-NTRK+ CRC (median TMB = 7.7 mut/MB) or NTRK+ non-CRC tumors (median TMB = 4 mut/MB). POLE/POLD1 mutations were also enriched in NTRK+ CRC (8/17, 47%) relative to molecularly unstratified CRC patients (8%) with over half carrying concurrent POLE and POLD1 mutations. TPM3 was the most common fusion partner of NTRK1 (78%, N = 14), followed by LMNA and TRP. Three NTRK3+ CRC were identified (ETV6-NTRK3, RUNX1-NTRK3, CSNK1G1-NTRK3). RNF43 (71%) was the most frequently mutated gene and the aberrations of RNF43 and ARID1 were significantly enriched in MSI-positive NTRK+ tumors as compared to the MSS NTRK+ subgroup. TP53 (53%) and APC (35%) aberrations frequently co-occurred with NTRK fusions, whereas the majority of the NTRK+ cohort were RAS/BRAFwildtype, except in one case that an oncogenic KRAS Q61R variant co-occurred with RUNX1-NTRK3.Conclusions:NTRK+ colorectal cancer is rare. In addition to the absence of canonical driver mutations, NTRK+ tumors demonstrated increased tumor mutation burden, higher frequency of microsatellite instability, and an enrichment of POLE/POLD1 mutations relative to molecularly unselected CRC population.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2021 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Colorectal and Anal

Track

Gastrointestinal Cancer—Colorectal and Anal

Sub Track

Epidemiology/Outcomes

Citation

J Clin Oncol 39, 2021 (suppl 15; abstr 3544)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2021.39.15_suppl.3544

Abstract #

3544

Poster Bd #

Online Only

Abstract Disclosures

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