Comprehensive genomic analysis reveals clinically relevant molecular distinctions between thymic carcinomas and thymomas.
OBJECTIVE
Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare intrathoracic malignancies that can be invasive and refractory to conventional treatment. Because these tumors both originate from the thymus, they are often grouped together clinically. However, whether the underlying biology of these tumors warrants such clustering is unclear, and the optimum treatment of either entity is unknown.


METHODS
All thymic tumors were profiled for mutations in genes encoding components of the EGFR and KIT signaling pathways, assessed for EGFR and KIT expression by immunohistochemistry, and analyzed by array-based comparative genomic hybridization. Previously untreated tumors were subjected to global gene expression arrays.


RESULTS
We analyzed 45 thymic tumors [thymoma, n = 38 (type A, n = 8; type B2, n = 22; type B3, n = 8); thymic carcinoma, n = 7]. One thymoma and one thymic carcinoma harbored KRAS mutations (G12A and G12V, respectively), and one thymoma had a G13V HRAS mutation. Three tumors displayed strong KIT staining. Two thymic carcinomas harbored somatic KIT mutations (V560del and H697Y). In cell viability assays, the V560del mutant was associated with similar sensitivities to imatinib and sunitinib, whereas the H697Y mutant displayed greater sensitivity to sunitinib. Genomic profiling revealed distinct differences between type A to B2 thymomas versus type B3 and thymic carcinomas. Moreover, array-based comparative genomic hybridization could readily distinguish squamous cell carcinomas of the thymus versus the lung, which can often present a diagnostic challenge.


CONCLUSIONS
Comprehensive genomic analysis suggests that thymic carcinomas are molecularly distinct from thymomas. These data have clinical, pathologic, and therapeutic implications for the treatment of thymic malignancies.
Girard
Nicolas
N
Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program (HOPP, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA.
Shen
Ronglai
R
Guo
Tianhua
T
Zakowski
Maureen F
MF
Heguy
Adriana
A
Riely
Gregory J
GJ
Huang
James
J
Lau
Christopher
C
Lash
Alex E
AE
Ladanyi
Marc
M
Viale
Agnes
A
Antonescu
Cristina R
CR
Travis
William D
WD
Rusch
Valerie W
VW
Kris
Mark G
MG
Pao
William
W
D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013945:Thymoma / Q000235:genetics*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D066246:ErbB Receptors; D019009:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit