Targeted next generation sequencing of parotid gland cancer uncovers genetic heterogeneity.

Targeted next generation sequencing of parotid gland cancer uncovers genetic heterogeneity. Oncotarget. 2015 May 25; Authors: Grünewald I, Vollbrecht C, Meinrath J, Meyer MF, Heukamp LC, Drebber U, Quaas A, Beutner D, Hüttenbrink KB, Wardelmann E, Hartmann W, Büttner R, Odenthal M, Stenner M Abstract Salivary gland cancer represents a heterogeneous group of malignant tumors. Due to their low incidence and the existence of multiple morphologically defined subtypes, these tumors are still poorly understood with regard to their molecular pathogenesis and therapeutically relevant genetic alterations. Performing a systematic and comprehensive study covering 13 subtypes of salivary gland cancer, next generation sequencing was done on 84 tissue samples of parotid gland cancer using multiplex PCR for enrichment of cancer related gene loci covering hotspots of 46 cancer genes. Mutations were identified in 22 different genes. The most frequent alterations affected TP53, followed by RAS genes, PIK3CA, SMAD4 and members of the ERB family. HRAS mutations accounted for more than 90% of RAS mutations, occurring especially in epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas and salivary duct carcinomas. Additional mutations in PIK3CA also affected particularly epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas and salivary duct carcinomas, occurring simultaneously with HRAS mutations in almost all cases, pointing to an unknown and therapeutically relevant molecular constell...
Source: Oncotarget - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Oncotarget Source Type: research