RET mutation and expression in small-cell lung cancer.
RET mutation and expression in small-cell lung cancer.
- 2014
Available online through MWHC library: 2006 - present
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in defining the somatic mutations associated with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Unfortunately, a serious blockade to genomic analyses of this disease is a limited access to tumors because surgery is rarely performed. We used our clinical/pathologic database of SCLC patients to determine the availability of biopsy specimens that could be used for genomic studies and to identify tumors for initial oncogene analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a subpopulation of SCLC patients may derive benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting RET. Coupled with the presence of RET fusion proteins in non-small-cell lung cancer, our data indicate an emerging role for RET in SCLC. METHODS: DNA was extracted from six tumors, three primary and three metastatic, and analyzed by SEQUENOM platform technology. RESULTS: Primary-resected tumor tissue represents less than 3% of all diagnostic specimens in this disease, highlighting the limited access to tissue sufficient for comprehensive genomic analyses. We identified an activating M918T RET somatic mutation in a metastatic SCLC tumor specimen. Bioinformatic search identified RET mutations in other SCLC studies. Stable overexpression of both mutant M918T and wild-type RET in two SCLC cell lines, H1048 and SW1271, activated ERK signaling, MYC expression, and increased cell proliferation, particularly by mutant RET. Stable cells became sensitized to the RET tyrosine kinase inhibitors, vandetanib and ponatinib. Further analysis of RET mRNA expression in SCLC revealed wide variability in both cells and tumors, and SCLC cells demonstrated significantly higher RET expression compared with adenocarcinoma lung cells.
English
1556-0864
*Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
*Lung Neoplasms/ge [Genetics]
*Mutation
*Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/ge [Genetics]
*RNA, Neoplasm/ge [Genetics]
*Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/ge [Genetics]
Aged
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
DNA Mutational Analysis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunoblotting
Immunohistochemistry
Lung Neoplasms/me [Metabolism]
Lung Neoplasms/pa [Pathology]
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/me [Metabolism]
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Retrospective Studies
Signal Transduction
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/me [Metabolism]
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pa [Pathology]
MedStar Harbor Hospital
Internal Medicine
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Available online through MWHC library: 2006 - present
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in defining the somatic mutations associated with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Unfortunately, a serious blockade to genomic analyses of this disease is a limited access to tumors because surgery is rarely performed. We used our clinical/pathologic database of SCLC patients to determine the availability of biopsy specimens that could be used for genomic studies and to identify tumors for initial oncogene analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a subpopulation of SCLC patients may derive benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors targeting RET. Coupled with the presence of RET fusion proteins in non-small-cell lung cancer, our data indicate an emerging role for RET in SCLC. METHODS: DNA was extracted from six tumors, three primary and three metastatic, and analyzed by SEQUENOM platform technology. RESULTS: Primary-resected tumor tissue represents less than 3% of all diagnostic specimens in this disease, highlighting the limited access to tissue sufficient for comprehensive genomic analyses. We identified an activating M918T RET somatic mutation in a metastatic SCLC tumor specimen. Bioinformatic search identified RET mutations in other SCLC studies. Stable overexpression of both mutant M918T and wild-type RET in two SCLC cell lines, H1048 and SW1271, activated ERK signaling, MYC expression, and increased cell proliferation, particularly by mutant RET. Stable cells became sensitized to the RET tyrosine kinase inhibitors, vandetanib and ponatinib. Further analysis of RET mRNA expression in SCLC revealed wide variability in both cells and tumors, and SCLC cells demonstrated significantly higher RET expression compared with adenocarcinoma lung cells.
English
1556-0864
*Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
*Lung Neoplasms/ge [Genetics]
*Mutation
*Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/ge [Genetics]
*RNA, Neoplasm/ge [Genetics]
*Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/ge [Genetics]
Aged
Cell Line, Tumor
Cell Proliferation
DNA Mutational Analysis
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Immunoblotting
Immunohistochemistry
Lung Neoplasms/me [Metabolism]
Lung Neoplasms/pa [Pathology]
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/me [Metabolism]
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Retrospective Studies
Signal Transduction
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/me [Metabolism]
Small Cell Lung Carcinoma/pa [Pathology]
MedStar Harbor Hospital
Internal Medicine
Journal Article
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't