NTRK Fusions Define a Novel Uterine Sarcoma Subtype With Features of Fibrosarcoma

Am J Surg Pathol. 2018 Jun;42(6):791-798. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001055.

Abstract

Tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk) inhibitors have shown high response rates in patients with tumors harboring NTRK fusions. We identified 4 NTRK fusion-positive uterine sarcomas that should be distinguished from leiomyosarcoma and undifferentiated uterine sarcoma. NTRK rearrangements were detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and/or targeted RNA or DNA sequencing in 4 undifferentiated uterine sarcomas with spindle cell morphology. Because of histologic overlap with leiomyosarcoma, TrkA and pan-Trk immunohistochemistry was performed in 97 uterine leiomyosarcomas. NTRK1 and NTRK3 FISH was performed on tumors with TrkA or pan-Trk staining. We also performed whole transcriptome RNA sequencing of a leiomyosarcoma with TrkA expression and targeted RNA sequencing of 2 additional undifferentiated uterine sarcomas. FISH and/or targeted RNA or DNA sequencing in the study group showed TPM3-NTRK1, LMNA-NTRK1, RBPMS-NTRK3, and TPR-NTRK1 fusions. All tumors were composed of fascicles of spindle cells. Mitotic index was 7 to 30 mitotic figures per 10 high power fields; tumor necrosis was seen in 2 tumors. Desmin, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor were negative in all tumors, while pan-Trk was expressed in all tumors with concurrent TrkA staining in 3 of them. TrkA and/or pan-Trk staining was also seen in 6 leiomyosarcomas, but these tumors lacked NTRK fusions or alternative isoforms by FISH or whole transcriptome sequencing. No fusions were detected in 2 undifferentiated uterine sarcomas. NTRK fusion-positive uterine spindle cell sarcomas constitute a novel tumor type with features of fibrosarcoma; patients with these tumors may benefit from Trk inhibition. TrkA and pan-Trk expression in leiomyosarcomas is rare and does not correlate with NTRK rearrangement.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Female
  • Fibrosarcoma / chemistry
  • Fibrosarcoma / genetics*
  • Fibrosarcoma / pathology
  • Gene Fusion*
  • Gene Rearrangement*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Leiomyosarcoma / chemistry
  • Leiomyosarcoma / genetics*
  • Leiomyosarcoma / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mitotic Index
  • Phenotype
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptor, trkA / analysis
  • Receptor, trkA / genetics*
  • Receptor, trkC / analysis
  • Receptor, trkC / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / chemistry
  • Sarcoma / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Uterine Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Uterine Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • NTRK1 protein, human
  • Receptor, trkA
  • Receptor, trkC