NTRK testing: First results of the QuiP-EQA scheme and a comprehensive map of NTRK fusion variants and their diagnostic coverage by targeted RNA-based NGS assays

Martina Kirchner, Julia Glade, Ulrich Lehmann, Sabine Merkelbach-Bruse, Michael Hummel, Annika Lehmann, Marcel Trautmann, Jörg Kumbrink, Andreas Jung, Wolfgang Dietmaier, Volker Endris, Daniel Kazdal, Carolin Ploeger, Matthias Evert, David Horst, Hans Kreipe, Thomas Kirchner, Eva Wardelmann, Reinhard Büttner, Wilko WeichertManfred Dietel, Peter Schirmacher, Albrecht Stenzinger, Nicole Pfarr

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Gene fusions involving the three neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase genes NTRK1, NTRK2, or NTRK3 were identified as oncogenic drivers in many cancer types. Two small molecule inhibitors have been tested in clinical trials recently and require the detection of a NTRK fusion gene prior to therapeutic application. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) assays are commonly used for diagnostic profiling of gene fusions. In the presented study we applied an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme in order to investigate the suitability of FISH and RNA-/DNA-based tNGS for detection of NTRK fusions in a multinational and multicentric ring trial. In total 27 participants registered for this study. Nine institutions took part in the FISH-based and 18 in the NGS-based round robin test, the latter additionally subdivided into low-input and high-input NGS methods (regarding nucleic acid input). Regardless of the testing method applied, all participants received tumor sections of 10 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue blocks for in situ hybridization or RNA/DNA extraction, and the results were submitted via an online questionnaire. For FISH testing, eight of nine (88.8%) participants, and for NGS-based testing 15 of 18 (83.3%) participants accomplished the round robin test successfully. The overall high success rate demonstrates that FISH- and tNGS-based NTRK testing can be well established in a routine diagnostic setting. Complementing this dataset, we provide an updated in silico analysis on the coverage of more than 150 NTRK fusion variants by several commercially available RNA-based tNGS panels.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)445-453
Number of pages9
JournalGenes Chromosomes and Cancer
Volume59
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Aug 2020

Keywords

  • FISH
  • NGS
  • NTRK
  • NTRK fusion variants
  • RNA sequencing

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