Implementing precision oncology for sarcoma patients: the CCCLMUmolecular tumor board experience

• Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology 2023-11, Vol.149 (15), p.13973-13983
• Main Authors: Berclaz, Luc M., Burkhard-Meier, Anton, Lange, Philipp, Di Gioia, Dorit, Schmidt, Michael, Knösel, Thomas, Klauschen, Frederick, von Bergwelt-Baildon, Michael, Heinemann, Volker, Greif, Philipp A., Westphalen, C. Benedikt, Heinrich, Kathrin, Lindner, Lars H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer Research; Hematology; Internal Medicine; MDM2 protein; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mutation; Next-generation sequencing; Oncology; p53 Protein; Patients; Precision medicine; Sarcoma; Therapeutic targets; Tumors
• ISSN: 0171-5216; 1432-1335
• DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05179-y

Purpose Due to poor outcomes and limited treatment options, patients with advanced bone and soft tissue sarcomas (BS/STS) may undergo comprehensive molecular profiling of tumor samples to identify possible therapeutic targets. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of routine molecular profiling in the setting of a dedicated precision oncology program in patients with BS/STS in a German large-volume sarcoma center. Methods 92 BS/STS patients who received comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) and were subsequently discussed in our molecular tumor board (MTB) between 2016 and 2022 were included. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical impact of NGS-related findings was analyzed. Results 89.1% of patients had received at least one treatment line before NGS testing. At least one molecular alteration was found in 71 patients (82.6%). The most common alterations were mutations in TP53 (23.3% of patients), followed by PIK3CA and MDM2 mutations (9.3% each). Druggable alterations were identified, and treatment recommended in 32 patients (37.2%). Of those patients with actionable alterations, ten patients (31.2%) received personalized treatment and six patients did benefit from molecular-based therapy in terms of a progression-free survival ratio (PFSr) > 1.3. Conclusion Our single-center experience shows an increasing uptake of next-generation sequencing (NGS) and highlights current challenges of implementing precision oncology in the management of patients with BS/STS. A relevant number of patients were diagnosed with clinically actionable alterations. Our results highlight the potential benefit of NGS in patients with rare cancers and currently limited therapeutic options.