• Media type: E-Article
  • Title: Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis for Guiding Therapeutic Decisions in Patients with Rare Cancers
  • Contributor: Horak, Peter; Heining, Christoph; Kreutzfeldt, Simon; Hutter, Barbara; Mock, Andreas; Hüllein, Jennifer; Fröhlich, Martina; Uhrig, Sebastian; Jahn, Arne; Rump, Andreas; Gieldon, Laura; Möhrmann, Lino; Hanf, Dorothea; Teleanu, Veronica; Heilig, Christoph E.; Lipka, Daniel B.; Allgäuer, Michael; Ruhnke, Leo; Laßmann, Andreas; Endris, Volker; Neumann, Olaf; Penzel, Roland; Beck, Katja; Richter, Daniela; [...]
  • imprint: American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), 2021
  • Published in: Cancer Discovery
  • Language: English
  • DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-21-0126
  • ISSN: 2159-8274; 2159-8290
  • Origination:
  • Footnote:
  • Description: <jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:sec> <jats:title /> <jats:p>The clinical relevance of comprehensive molecular analysis in rare cancers is not established. We analyzed the molecular profiles and clinical outcomes of 1,310 patients (rare cancers, 75.5%) enrolled in a prospective observational study by the German Cancer Consortium that applies whole-genome/exome and RNA sequencing to inform the care of adults with incurable cancers. On the basis of 472 single and six composite biomarkers, a cross-institutional molecular tumor board provided evidence-based management recommendations, including diagnostic reevaluation, genetic counseling, and experimental treatment, in 88% of cases. Recommended therapies were administered in 362 of 1,138 patients (31.8%) and resulted in significantly improved overall response and disease control rates (23.9% and 55.3%) compared with previous therapies, translating into a progression-free survival ratio &amp;gt;1.3 in 35.7% of patients. These data demonstrate the benefit of molecular stratification in rare cancers and represent a resource that may promote clinical trial access and drug approvals in this underserved patient population.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Significance:</jats:title> <jats:p>Rare cancers are difficult to treat; in particular, molecular pathogenesis–oriented medical therapies are often lacking. This study shows that whole-genome/exome and RNA sequencing enables molecularly informed treatments that lead to clinical benefit in a substantial proportion of patients with advanced rare cancers and paves the way for future clinical trials.</jats:p> <jats:p>See related commentary by Eggermont et al., p. 2677.</jats:p> <jats:p>This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2659</jats:p> </jats:sec>
  • Access State: Open Access