Kinase fusions are frequent in Spitz tumours and spitzoid melanomas Journal Article


Authors: Wiesner, T.; He, J.; Yelensky, R.; Esteve-Puig, R.; Botton, T.; Yeh, I.; Lipson, D.; Otto, G.; Brennan, K.; Murali, R.; Garrido, M.; Miller, V. A.; Ross, J. S.; Berger, M. F.; Sparatta, A.; Palmedo, G.; Cerroni, L.; Busam, K. J.; Kutzner, H.; Cronin, M. T.; Stephens, P. J.; Bastian, B. C.
Article Title: Kinase fusions are frequent in Spitz tumours and spitzoid melanomas
Abstract: Spitzoid neoplasms are a group of melanocytic tumours with distinctive histopathological features. They include benign tumours (Spitz naevi), malignant tumours (spitzoid melanomas) and tumours with borderline histopathological features and uncertain clinical outcome (atypical Spitz tumours). Their genetic underpinnings are poorly understood, and alterations in common melanoma-associated oncogenes are typically absent. Here we show that spitzoid neoplasms harbour kinase fusions of ROS1 (17%), NTRK1 (16%), ALK (10%), BRAF (5%) and RET (3%) in a mutually exclusive pattern. The chimeric proteins are constitutively active, stimulate oncogenic signalling pathways, are tumourigenic and are found in the entire biologic spectrum of spitzoid neoplasms, including 55% of Spitz naevi, 56% of atypical Spitz tumours and 39% of spitzoid melanomas. Kinase inhibitors suppress the oncogenic signalling of the fusion proteins in vitro. In summary, kinase fusions account for the majority of oncogenic aberrations in spitzoid neoplasms and may serve as therapeutic targets for metastatic spitzoid melanomas. © 2014 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Journal Title: Nature Communications
Volume: 5
ISSN: 2041-1723
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 2014-01-01
Start Page: 3116
Language: English
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4116
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 24445538
PMCID: PMC4084638
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 3 March 2014 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Boris Christoph Bastian
    18 Bastian
  2. Rajmohan Murali
    220 Murali
  3. Thomas Wiesner
    39 Wiesner
  4. Michael Forman Berger
    768 Berger
  5. Klaus J Busam
    690 Busam