Rational testing for gene fusion in colorectal cancer: MSI and RAS-BRAF wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer as target population for systematic screening

Abstract

Gene fusions provide access to new therapeutic opportunities for patients treated for a colorectal cancer (CRC). However, they do not excess 1% of patients. A better identification of patients in whom gene fusions are highly prevalent is a major issue in a therapeutic and medico-economics perspective. This study assesses the rates of gene fusions in CRC patients with MSI/RAS-BRAF^WT in our routine practice detected with a commercially available NGS-based fusion panel. Among the 130 MSI CRC tumors, 43 (33%) were KRAS-NRAS-BRAF^WT. A gene fusion was detected in 7 (25.9%) of the 27 MSI/RAS-BRAF^WT samples, which had RNA suitable for analysis after quality control. These fusions involved mainly NTRK1/3 (n = 5), as well as ALK (n = 1) and BRAF (n = 1). In the present study, we confirm that patients with MSI/RAS-BRAF^WT CRCs represent a subpopulation in which targetable gene fusions are overrepresented. Our results support the use of a two-step algorithm for molecular screening, in which metastatic CRC patients would have routine MSI and RAS/BRAF testing, and then only those with MSI/RAS-BRAFWT would be screened with dedicated NGS RNA panel for gene fusions.

Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Gene fusion; Medico-economics; Targeted therapy.