Journal article
Prevalence and biological impact of clinically relevant gene fusions in head and neck cancers
NPJ precision oncology, Vol.9(1), 221
07/03/2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41698-025-00889-7
PMCID: PMC12229568
PMID: 40610725
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Currently-approved systemic therapies include chemotherapy, anti-EGFR antibodies, and PD-1 immunotherapy, with few genomic-based targeted therapies. Gene fusions involving cancer-driving kinase genes such as FGFR, NTRK, and ALK are clinically targetable in other solid tumors; however, there is limited knowledge about their prevalence in HNC. Here, we describe the genomic landscape and the biological impact of oncogenic fusions in a combined dataset of over 13,000 HNC tumors (excluding salivary gland tumors). We identified 66 cases (2.8%) harboring oncogenic fusions, including previously-reported FGFR3 fusions (n = 19) and gain-of-function EGFR fusions (n = 6). Fusion-positive HNC had significantly higher gene expression and higher prevalence of human papillomavirus than fusion-negative HNC (p < 0.001). Tumors with FGFR alterations were associated with enriched cell proliferation and higher abundance of NK cells and CD8+ T cells compared to wildtype. Our results provide expanded therapeutic opportunities for patients with HNCs.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Prevalence and biological impact of clinically relevant gene fusions in head and neck cancers
- Creators
- Emily L Hoskins - The Ohio State UniversityRaven Vella - The Ohio State UniversityJulie W Reeser - The Ohio State UniversityMichele R Wing - The Ohio State UniversityEric Samorodnitsky - The Ohio State UniversityAltan Turkoglu - The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research InstituteLeah Stein - The Ohio State UniversityElizabeth Breuning - Loyola University ChicagoZachary A Risch - The Ohio State UniversityWilnelly M Hernandez-Sanchez - Caris Life SciencesLianbo Yu - The Ohio State UniversityMichelle ChurchmanNancy Single - The Ohio State UniversityJad Chahoud - Moffitt Cancer CenterAntonio Jimeno - University of Colorado DenverMichael J Cavnar - University of KentuckyMatthew Reilley - University of Virginia Health SystemCourtney Scaife - University of UtahKenneth G Nepple - University of IowaMinh Phan - University of Oklahoma Health Sciences CenterBryan Schneider - Indiana University School of MedicineStephen Edge - Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer CenterBodour Salhia - University of Southern CaliforniaAliza Leiser - Rutgers, The State University of New JerseyTrisha M Wise-Draper - University of CincinnatiMichael K Wendt - University of IowaSameek Roychowdhury - The Ohio State University
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- NPJ precision oncology, Vol.9(1), 221
- DOI
- 10.1038/s41698-025-00889-7
- PMID
- 40610725
- PMCID
- PMC12229568
- NLM abbreviation
- NPJ Precis Oncol
- ISSN
- 2397-768X
- eISSN
- 2397-768X
- Publisher
- NATURE PORTFOLIO
- Grant note
- UH2CA262220 / NCI NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 07/03/2025
- Academic Unit
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics; Urology; Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984843596102771
Metrics
4 Record Views