Abstract
Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous malignant tumor with neuroendocrine differentiation, with a rapidly growing incidence rate, high risk of recurrence, and aggressive behavior. The available therapeutic options for advanced disease are limited and there is a pressing need for new treatments. Tumors harboring fusions involving one of the neurotrophin receptor tyrosine kinase (NTRK) genes are now actionable with targeted inhibitors. NTRK-fused genes have been identified in neuroendocrine tumors of other sites; thus, a series of 76 MCCs were firstly analyzed with pan-TRK immunohistochemistry and the positive ones with real-time RT-PCR, RNA-based NGS, and FISH to detect the eventual underlying gene fusion. Despite 34 MCCs showing pan-TRK expression, NTRK fusions were not found in any cases. As in other tumors with neural differentiation, TRK expression seems to be physiological and not caused by gene fusions.
Funder
Veneto Institute of Oncology IOV-IRCCS
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis
Reference48 articles.
1. Danger is only skin deep: Aggressive epidermal carcinomas. An overview of the diagnosis, demographics, molecular-genetics, staging, prognostic biomarkers, and therapeutic advances in Merkel cell carcinoma;Tetzlaff;Mod. Pathol.,2020
2. Merkel cell carcinoma;Becker;Nat. Rev. Dis. Prim.,2017
3. Merkel cell carcinoma: An updated overview of clinico-pathological aspects, molecular genetics and therapy;Dika;Eur. J. Dermatol.,2021
4. Incidence and survival for Merkel cell carcinoma in Queensland, Australia, 1993–2010;Youlden;JAMA Dermatol.,2014
5. Merkel cell carcinoma of the hand and upper extremity: Current trends and outcomes;Soltani;J. Plast. Reconstr. Aesthet. Surg.,2014
Cited by
1 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献,注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献,订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献