TY - JOUR
T1 - A new NFIA:RAF1 fusion activating the MAPK pathway in pilocytic astrocytoma
AU - Yde, Christina Westmose
AU - Sehested, Astrid
AU - Regué, Àngels Mateu
AU - Østrup, Olga
AU - Scheie, David
AU - Nysom, Karsten
AU - Nielsen, Finn Cilius
AU - Rossing, Maria
N1 - Copyright © 2016 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2016/10/1
Y1 - 2016/10/1
N2 - Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is one of the most common brain cancers among children and activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway is considered the hallmark. In the majority of cases, oncogenic BRAF fusions or BRAF V600E mutations are observed, while RAF1 or NF1 alterations are more rarely found. However, in some cases, no apparent cancer driver events can be identified. Here, we describe a novel fusion between the transcription factor nuclear factor 1A (NFIA) and Raf-1 proto-oncogene (RAF1) in a 5-year old boy with PA. The novel fusion was identified as part of a comprehensive genomic tumor profiling. We show that the NFIA:RAF1 fusion results in constitutive Raf1 kinase activity, leading to activation of downstream MEK1/2 cascade and increased proliferation of cancer cells. The NFIA:RAF1 fusion displayed distinct subcellular localization towards the plasma membrane indicative of Raf-1 activation, in contrast to both wild type NFIA and Raf-1, which were localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. In conclusion, our data support the existence of rare oncogenic RAF1 fusions with constitutive Raf-1 activity. This highlights the need for broad genetic testing in order to refine diagnostics of PA and to unravel potential treatment options, e.g. with MEK inhibitors.
AB - Pilocytic astrocytoma (PA) is one of the most common brain cancers among children and activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway is considered the hallmark. In the majority of cases, oncogenic BRAF fusions or BRAF V600E mutations are observed, while RAF1 or NF1 alterations are more rarely found. However, in some cases, no apparent cancer driver events can be identified. Here, we describe a novel fusion between the transcription factor nuclear factor 1A (NFIA) and Raf-1 proto-oncogene (RAF1) in a 5-year old boy with PA. The novel fusion was identified as part of a comprehensive genomic tumor profiling. We show that the NFIA:RAF1 fusion results in constitutive Raf1 kinase activity, leading to activation of downstream MEK1/2 cascade and increased proliferation of cancer cells. The NFIA:RAF1 fusion displayed distinct subcellular localization towards the plasma membrane indicative of Raf-1 activation, in contrast to both wild type NFIA and Raf-1, which were localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, respectively. In conclusion, our data support the existence of rare oncogenic RAF1 fusions with constitutive Raf-1 activity. This highlights the need for broad genetic testing in order to refine diagnostics of PA and to unravel potential treatment options, e.g. with MEK inhibitors.
KW - Journal Article
U2 - 10.1016/j.cancergen.2016.09.002
DO - 10.1016/j.cancergen.2016.09.002
M3 - Letter
C2 - 27810072
SN - 0165-4608
VL - 209
SP - 440
EP - 444
JO - Cancer genetics and cytogenetics
JF - Cancer genetics and cytogenetics
IS - 10
ER -
