Title
Expressed gene fusions as frequent drivers of poor outcomes in hormone receptor–positive breast cancer
Date Issued
01 March 2018
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Matissek K.J.
Onozato M.L.
Sun S.
Zheng Z.
Schultz A.
Lee J.
Patel K.
Jerevall P.L.
Saladi S.V.
Macleay A.
Tavallai M.
Badovinac-Crnjevic T.
Barrios C.
Beşe N.
Chan A.
Chavarri-Guerra Y.
Debiasi M.
Demirdogen E.
Egeli U.
Gokgoz S.
Liedke P.
Tasdelen I.
Tolunay S.
Werutsky G.
Louis J.S.
Horick N.
Finkelstein D.M.
Le L.P.
Bardia A.
Goss P.E.
Sgroi D.C.
Iafrate A.J.
Ellisen L.W.
Publisher(s)
American Association for Cancer Research Inc.
Abstract
We sought to uncover genetic drivers of hormone receptor–positive (HR +) breast cancer, using a targeted next-generation sequencing approach for detecting expressed gene rearrangements without prior knowledge of the fusion partners. We identifi ed intergenic fusions involving driver genes, including PIK3CA, AKT3, RAF1, and ESR1, in 14% (24/173) of unselected patients with advanced HR + breast cancer. FISH confi rmed the corresponding chromosomal rearrangements in both primary and metastatic tumors. Expression of novel kinase fusions in nontransformed cells deregulates phosphoprotein signaling, cell proliferation, and survival in threedimensional culture, whereas expression in HR + breast cancer models modulates estrogen-dependent growth and confers hormonal therapy resistance in vitro and in vivo. Strikingly, shorter overall survival was observed in patients with rearrangement-positive versus rearrangement-negative tumors. Correspondingly, fusions were uncommon (<5%) among 300 patients presenting with primary HR + breast cancer. Collectively, our fi ndings identify expressed gene fusions as frequent and potentially actionable drivers in HR + breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: By using a powerful clinical molecular diagnostic assay, we identifi ed expressed intergenic fusions as frequent contributors to treatment resistance and poor survival in advanced HR + breast cancer. The prevalence and biological and prognostic signifi cance of these alterations suggests that their detection may alter clinical management and bring to light new therapeutic opportunities.
Start page
336
End page
353
Volume
8
Issue
3
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Patología Oncología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85047875417
PubMed ID
Source
Cancer Discovery
ISSN of the container
21598274
Sponsor(s)
This work was supported in part by the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade and the Tracey Davis Memorial Fund. We gratefully acknowledge international collaborators who provided matched primary/ metastatic breast cancer specimens, from the Latin America Cooperative Oncology Group (LACOG) including Laura Voelcker, Carlos Sampaio (Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul), Giuliano Borges (Clinica de Neoplasias Litoral), Gustavo Ismael (Fundaçao Amaral Carvalho), Yeni Neron (CEPON), Gabriel Prolla (Hospital Mae de Deus), and Susanne Crocamo (INCA). We also thank Josh Lauring (Johns Hopkins University) for the generous gift of MCF7PIK3CAWT cells. D.C. Sgroi was funded in part by a grant from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus