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- Title
NTRK Fusions in Central Nervous System Tumors: A Rare, but Worthy Target.
- Authors
Gambella, Alessandro; Senetta, Rebecca; Collemi, Giammarco; Vallero, Stefano Gabriele; Monticelli, Matteo; Cofano, Fabio; Zeppa, Pietro; Garbossa, Diego; Pellerino, Alessia; Rudà, Roberta; Soffietti, Riccardo; Fagioli, Franca; Papotti, Mauro; Cassoni, Paola; Bertero, Luca
- 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.
- Subjects
CENTRAL nervous system tumors; NEUROTROPHINS; CENTRAL nervous system; BRAIN tumors; CHROMOSOMAL rearrangement
- Publication
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020, Vol 21, Issue 3, p753
- ISSN
1661-6596
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ijms21030753