Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-3 fusion genes have been recently demonstrated in a subset of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To aid in identification and treatment of these patients, we examined the frequency, clinicopathologic characteristics, and treatment outcomes of patients who had NSCLC with or without FGFR fusions. Fourteen known FGFR fusion variants, including FGFR1, FGFR2, and FGFR3, were detected by RT-PCR and verified by direct sequencing in 1,328 patients with NSCLC. All patients were also analyzed for mutations in EGFR, KRAS, HER2, BRAF, ALK, RET, and ROS1. Clinical characteristics, including age, sex, smoking status, stage, subtypes of lung adenocarcinoma, relapse-free survival, and overall survival, were collected. Of 1,328 tumors screened, two (0.2%) were BAG4-FGFR1 fusion and 15 (1.1%) were FGFR3-TACC3 fusion. Six of 1,016 patients with lung adenocarcinoma were FGFR3-TACC3 fusions and 11 of 312 lung squamous cell carcinoma harbored BAG4-FGFR1 or FGFR3-TACC3 fusions. Compared with the FGFR fusion-negative group, patients with FGFR fusions were more likely to be smokers (94.1%, 16 of 17 patients, P < 0.001), significantly associated with larger tumor (>3 cm; 88.2%, 15 of 17 patients, P < 0.001) and with a tendency to be more poorly differentiated (53.9%, nine of 17 patients, P = 0.095). FGFR fusions define a molecular subset of NSCLC with distinct clinical characteristics. FGFR is a druggable target and patients with FGFR fusions may benefit from FGFR-targeted therapy, which needs further clinical investigation.
Highlights
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide [1, 2]
fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) fusions define a molecular subset of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with distinct clinical characteristics
Detection of FGFR Fusion in NSCLC All tumors were examined by RT-PCR and direct sequencing with primer sets covered 14 known FGFR fusion variants
Summary
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide [1, 2]. Histologically, non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell carcinoma, is the most com-Authors' Affiliations: Department of 1Thoracic Surgery and 2Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; 3Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University; 4Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China; and 5Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TennesseeNote: Supplementary data for this article are available at Clinical Cancer Research Online (http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/).R. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide [1, 2]. Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and large cell carcinoma, is the most com-. Authors' Affiliations: Department of 1Thoracic Surgery and 2Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; 3Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University; 4Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institute for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Science, Shanghai, China; and 5Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, Tennessee. Note: Supplementary data for this article are available at Clinical Cancer Research Online (http://clincancerres.aacrjournals.org/).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
