A Two-Step Diagnostic Approach for NTRK Gene Fusion Detection in Biliary Tract and Pancreatic Adenocarcinomas

It is of interest to determine the incidence and molecular characteristics of NTRK gene fusions in patients with bilio-pancreatic cancers, because of possible treatment with TRK inhibitors for advanced tumors. The aim of the present study was to apply the guidelines for NTRK testing algorithm to a series of patients with bilio-pancreatic cancers.

Immunohistochemistry screening was applied on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival blocks from surgical resections, biopsies, or cytological samples of biliary tract and pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The presence of at least a weak staining in rare tumor cells led to testing by 2 RNA-based NGS panels.

For biliary tract tumors, 153 samples have been selected. A total of 140 samples were suitable to perform IHC, and 17 samples were IHC positive. RNA NGS testing of the 17 IHC-positive samples revealed a single NTRK3 gene fusion (ETV6(4)-NTRK3(14)) that was detected by both NGS panels. In this perihilar cholangiocarcinoma, IHC performed on a biopsy showed a weak focal cytoplasmic and nuclear staining. No other NTRK fusion was detected on the 16 other samples with both panels. Overall in the patients screened by IHC and confirmed by NGS, the percentage of NTRK fusions was 0.7%. For pancreatic cancers, 319 samples have been selected and 297 were suitable to perform IHC. Nineteen samples were IHC positive. No fusion was detected by NGS.

NTRK gene fusions are rare in bilio-pancreatic cancers but testing is of high interest due to possible treatment with specific TRK inhibitors.