Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

24 May 2021: Editorial  

Editorial: 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Recommendations on Laboratory Diagnostics for Gene Fusions and Mutations: A New Era in Targeted Therapy for -Altered Solid Tumors

Dinah V. Parums1AE*

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.933206

Med Sci Monit 2021; 27:e933206

0 Comments

Abstract

ABSTRACT: During the past four decades, the identification of phenotypic changes in malignant tumor cells has been refined by the standardization of immunohistochemistry methods. Regulatory-approved companion diagnostics were initially developed for immunohistochemistry and to support early tumor tissue-based clinical trials. In the last decade, molecular profiling and gene sequencing data have identified specific molecular targets that have resulted in increasing drug development programs and regulatory approvals. As an example, RET-altered cancers include RET gene mutations and RET gene fusions. In January 2021, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) published new guidelines for routine clinical laboratory detection of targetable RET gene rearrangements and mutations. FDA approval has now been given for selpercatinib for RET fusion-positive NSCLC and papillary thyroid cancer, and RET mutation-positive thyroid cancer. This Editorial aims to present a brief overview of the evolution of personalized medicine in oncology and how the 2021 ESMO guidelines have anticipated the need to detect targetable RET-altered tumors using technology currently available in accredited clinical diagnostic laboratories.

Keywords: Editorial, Gene Rearrangement, Mutation, Immunohistochemistry, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Sequence Analysis, Protein, Gene Fusion, Guidelines as Topic, Medical Oncology, Neoplasms, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret

More than 40 years ago, the identification of tumor-associated antigens resulted in diagnostic immunohistochemistry antibody panels in routine diagnostic histopathology. Guidelines for standardization in tissue fixation and processing and the development of specific monoclonal antibodies continued to develop in parallel with automated immunostaining methods and image analysis to quantify the expression of markers for cell proliferation, apoptosis, and cell phenotypes. Prognostic markers were also identified that included hormone receptors and growth factors. All these developments combined to develop personalized and targeted therapy for patients with advanced malignancy.

Personalized medicine in oncology began almost 20 years ago by identifying epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression using immunohistochemistry [1]. At this time, the first major biomarker clinical trial was conducted that used tumor tissue samples from patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1]. These first clinical trials identified which patients would respond to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), gefitinib [1,2]. Developments in confocal immunofluorescence microscopy allowed for evaluating multiple potential therapeutic targets within one tumor, using an approach termed ‘systems pathology’ [3]. Also, the realization that an approved companion diagnostic (CDx) was a fundamental requirement to identify and use personalized treatment options for patients with advanced cancer resulted in an increasing number of regulatory-approved targeted therapies [2,4,5].

In the last decade, molecular profiling and gene sequencing data have identified specific molecular targets that have resulted in increasing drug development programs and regulatory approvals. The identification of gene mutations and rearrangements also requires standardization and reliable detection methods.

The RET gene, located on the long arm of chromosome 10, encodes a transmembrane glycoprotein receptor that has tyrosine kinase activity [6,7]. RET receptor activation triggers several downstream pathways, including RAS-MAPK, PI3K-AKT, and JAK-STAT, which have roles in cell survival and cell proliferation [6,7]. RET-altered cancers include RET gene mutations and RET gene fusions [6,7]

In January 2021, the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Translational Research and Precision Medicine Working Group published new guidelines for routine clinical laboratory detection of targetable RET gene rearrangements and mutations [8]. ESMO has recommended and compared the use of five main laboratory methods for RET gene rearrangements and mutations: immunohistochemistry (IHC); fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH); reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. (RT-PCR); DNA sequencing by next-generation sequencing (DNA-seq NGS); and RNA sequencing by next-generation sequencing (RNA-seq NGS) [8]. ESMO has recommended that FISH and RNA-seq NGS have the highest sensitivity and specificity for detecting targetable RET rearrangements and mutations and recommends that DNA-seq NGS is most applicable for use in screening [8].

The timing of the new ESMO guidelines coincides with the recent approvals by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for targeted therapies in RET-altered solid tumors [9,10]. Based on safety and efficacy data from phase I/II clinical trials, selpercatinib was recently approved by the FDA for RET fusion-positive NSCLC and papillary thyroid cancer, and RET mutation-positive thyroid cancer [9,10]. Following the development of the 2021 ESMO guidelines, it is anticipated that more approvals will follow for targeted therapy in RET-altered malignancy.

Conclusions

During the past four decades, the identification of phenotypic changes in malignant tumor cells has been refined by the standardization of immunohistochemistry methods. Twenty years ago, the development of regulatory-approved companion diagnostics occurred in parallel with initial clinical trials using human tumor tissue samples, initially from patients with NSCLC. In the past decade, molecular profiling and gene sequencing developments have taken personalized medicine to a new level, as shown by RET-altered cancers. The 2021 ESMO guidelines have anticipated the need to detect targetable RET gene rearrangements and mutations in patients with advanced malignancy using technology currently available in accredited clinical diagnostic laboratories.

References

1. Hirsch FR, Dziadziuszko R, Thatcher N, Epidermal growth factor receptor immunohistochemistry: Comparison of antibodies and cutoff points to predict benefit from gefitinib in a phase 3 placebo-controlled study in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: Cancer, 2008; 112(5); 1114-21

2. Parums DV, Current status of targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: Drugs Today (Barc), 2014; 50(7); 503-25

3. Donovan MJ, Kotsianti A, Bayer-Zubek V, A systems pathology model for predicting overall survival in patients with refractory, advanced non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib: Eur J Cancer, 2009; 45(8); 1518-26

4. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Companion Diagnostics, 2021 https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/vitro-diagnostics/companion-diagnostics

5. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): List of Cleared or Approved Companion Diagnostic Devices (In Vitro and Imaging Tools), 2021 https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/vitro-diagnostics/list-cleared-or-approved-companion-diagnostic-devices-vitro-and-imaging-tools

6. Arighi E, Borrello MG, Sariola H: Cytokine Growth Factor Rev, 2005; 16; 441-67

7. Subbiah V, Roszik J: Cell Cycle, 2017; 16; 813-14

8. Belli C, Penault-Llorca F, Ladanyi M: Ann Oncol, 2021; 32(3); 337-50

9. Drilon A, Oxnard GR, Tan DSW: N Engl J Med, 2020; 383; 813-24

10. Wirth LJ, Sherman E, Robinson B: N Engl J Med, 2020; 383; 825-35

In Press

18 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research  

Sexual Dysfunction in Women After Tibial Fracture: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944136  

0:00

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

Most Viewed Current Articles

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750