Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry is an efficient and reliable screen for the detection of NTRK fusions Journal Article


Authors: Hechtman, J. F.; Benayed, R.; Hyman, D. M.; Drilon, A.; Zehir, A.; Frosina, D.; Arcila, M. E.; Dogan, S.; Klimstra, D. S.; Ladanyi, M.; Jungbluth, A. A.
Article Title: Pan-TRK immunohistochemistry is an efficient and reliable screen for the detection of NTRK fusions
Abstract: Activating neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) fusions, typically detected using nucleic-acid based assays, are highly targetable and define certain tumors. Here, we explore the utility of pan-TRK immunohistochemistry (IHC) to detect NTRK fusions. NTRK rearrangements were detected prospectively using MSK-IMPACT, a DNA-based next-generation sequencing assay. Transcription of novel NTRK rearrangements into potentially functional fusion transcripts was assessed via Archer Dx fusion assay. Pan-Trk IHC testing with mAb EPR17341 was performed on all NTRK rearranged cases and 20 cases negative for NTRK fusions on Archer. Of 23 cases with NTRK rearrangements, 15 had known activating fusions. Archer detected fusion transcripts in 6 of 8 novel NTRK rearrangements of uncertain functional significance. Pan-Trk IHC was positive in 20 of 21 cases with NTRK fusion transcripts confirmed by Archer. The discordant negative case was a mismatch repair- deficient colorectal carcinoma with an ETV6-NTRK3 fusion. All 20 additional Archer-negative cases had concordant pan-TRK IHC results. Pan-Trk IHC sensitivity and specificity for transcribed NTRK fusions was 95.2% and 100%, respectively. All positive IHC cases had cytoplasmic staining while the following fusion partner-specific patterns were discovered: all 5 LMNA-NTRK1 fusions displayed nuclear membrane accentuation, all 4 TPM3/4 fusions displayed cellular membrane accentuation, and half (3/6) of ETV6-NTRK3 fusions displayed nuclear staining. Pan-Trk IHC is a time-efficient and tissue-efficient screen for NTRK fusions, particularly in driver-negative advanced malignancies and potential cases of secretory carcinoma and congenital fibrosarcoma. Pan-Trk IHC can help determine whether translation occurs for novel NTRK rearrangements. © 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry; genetics; mutation; prospective study; prospective studies; neoplasm; neoplasms; reproducibility; reproducibility of results; phenotype; genetic predisposition to disease; pathology; tumor marker; biopsy; gene rearrangement; membrane glycoproteins; membrane protein; gene fusion; predictive value of tests; dna sequence; gene dosage; genetic predisposition; predictive value; fusion; sequence analysis, dna; dna copy number variations; brain derived neurotrophic factor receptor; receptor, trkb; copy number variation; nerve growth factor receptor; receptors, nerve growth factor; protein tyrosine kinase a; neurotrophin 3 receptor; receptor, trka; humans; human; male; female; ntrk1; biomarkers, tumor; ntrk2; ntrk3; pan-trk; trka protein, human; tropomyosin-related kinase-b, human; receptor, trkc
Journal Title: American Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume: 41
Issue: 11
ISSN: 0147-5185
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins  
Date Published: 2017-11-01
Start Page: 1547
End Page: 1551
Language: English
DOI: 10.1097/pas.0000000000000911
PUBMED: 28719467
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC5636652
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 November 2017 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. David S Klimstra
    978 Klimstra
  2. Marc Ladanyi
    1326 Ladanyi
  3. David Hyman
    354 Hyman
  4. Snjezana Dogan
    187 Dogan
  5. Ahmet Zehir
    343 Zehir
  6. Achim Jungbluth
    454 Jungbluth
  7. Maria Eugenia Arcila
    657 Arcila
  8. Denise Frosina
    123 Frosina
  9. Alexander Edward Drilon
    632 Drilon
  10. Jaclyn Frances Hechtman
    212 Hechtman
  11. Rym Benayed
    188 Benayed