BRAF Fusion Analysis in Pilocytic Astrocytomas: KIAA1549-BRAF 15-9 Fusions Are More Frequent in the Midline Than Within the Cerebellum

Faulkner, Claire; Ellis, Hayley Patricia; Shaw, Abigail; Penman, Catherine; Palmer, Abigail; Wragg, Christopher; Greenslade, Mark; Haynes, Harry Russell; Williams, Hannah; Lowis, Stephen; White, Paul; Williams, Maggie; Capper, David; Kurian, Kathreena Mary

Abstract

Copyright © 2015 by the American Association of Neuropathologists, Inc. Pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs) are increasingly tested for KIAA1549-BRAF fusions. We used reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for the 3 most common KIAA1549-BRAF fusions, together with BRAF V600E and histone H3.3 K27M analyses to identify relationships of these molecular characteristics with clinical features in a cohort of 32 PA patients. In this group, the overall BRAF fusion detection rate was 24 (75%). Ten (42%) of the 24 had the 16-9 fusion, 8 (33%) had only the 15-9 fusion, and 1 (4%) of the patients had only the 16-11 fusion. In the PAs with only the 15-9 fusion, 1 PA was in the cerebellum and 7 were centered in the midline outside of the cerebellum, that is, in the hypothalamus (n = 4), optic pathways (n = 2), and brainstem (n = 1). Tumors within the cerebellum were negatively associated with fusion 15-9. Seven (22%) of the 32 patients had tumor-related deaths and 25 of the patients (78%) were alive between 2 and 14 years after initial biopsy. Age, sex, tumor location, 16-9 fusion, and 15-9 fusion were not associated with overall survival. Thus, in this small cohort, 15-9 KIAA1549-BRAF fusion was associated with midline PAs located outside of the cerebellum; these tumors, which are generally difficult to resect, are prone to recurrence.

Citation

Faulkner, C., Ellis, H. P., Shaw, A., Penman, C., Palmer, A., Wragg, C., …Kurian, K. M. (2015). BRAF Fusion Analysis in Pilocytic Astrocytomas: KIAA1549-BRAF 15-9 Fusions Are More Frequent in the Midline Than Within the Cerebellum. Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology, 74(9), 867-872. https://doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0000000000000226

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Aug 27, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: May 13, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Neuropathology and Experimental Neurology
• Print ISSN: 0022-3069
• Electronic ISSN: 1554-6578
• Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 74
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 867-872
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0000000000000226
• Keywords: BRAF, gene fusion, KIAA1549-BRAF, pilocytic astrocytoma, RT-PCR
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/828995
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/NEN.0000000000000226