Somatic chromosomal engineering identifies BCAN-NTRK1 as a potent glioma driver and therapeutic target Journal Article


Authors: Cook, P. J.; Thomas, R.; Kannan, R.; de Leon, E. S.; Drilon, A.; Rosenblum, M. K.; Scaltriti, M.; Benezra, R.; Ventura, A.
Article Title: Somatic chromosomal engineering identifies BCAN-NTRK1 as a potent glioma driver and therapeutic target
Abstract: The widespread application of high-throughput sequencing methods is resulting in the identification of a rapidly growing number of novel gene fusions caused by tumour-specific chromosomal rearrangements, whose oncogenic potential remains unknown. Here we describe a strategy that builds upon recent advances in genome editing and combines ex vivo and in vivo chromosomal engineering to rapidly and effectively interrogate the oncogenic potential of genomic rearrangements identified in human brain cancers. We show that one such rearrangement, an microdeletion resulting in a fusion between Brevican (BCAN) and Neurotrophic Receptor Tyrosine Kinase 1 (NTRK1), is a potent oncogenic driver of high-grade gliomas and confers sensitivity to the experimental TRK inhibitor entrectinib. This work demonstrates that BCAN-NTRK1 is a bona fide human glioma driver and describes a general strategy to define the oncogenic potential of novel glioma-associated genomic rearrangements and to generate accurate preclinical models of this lethal human cancer.
Journal Title: Nature Communications
Volume: 8
ISSN: 2041-1723
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2017-07-11
Start Page: 15987
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15987
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5508201
PUBMED: 28695888
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 5 September 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Marc Rosenblum
    411 Rosenblum
  2. Robert Benezra
    145 Benezra
  3. Andrea Ventura
    52 Ventura
  4. Peter Cook
    6 Cook
  5. Alexander Edward Drilon
    556 Drilon
  6. Maurizio Scaltriti
    169 Scaltriti
  7. Ram   Kannan
    7 Kannan
  8. Rozario Ilaventhan Thomas
    4 Thomas