Precision oncology for advanced-stage adenocarcinoma of the appendix: comprehensive molecular characterisation identifies actionable lesions and potential predictive biomarkers

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributed

Contributors

  • Sebastian Lange - , Center for International Studies, Klinikum Rechts der Isar (MRI TUM), Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Hannah Lisiecki - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Simon Kreutzfeldt - , National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg (Author)
  • Christoph Heining - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Lena Weiss - , Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich (Author)
  • Christoph Benedikt Westphalen - , Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU) Munich (Author)
  • Albrecht Stenzinger - , University Hospital Heidelberg (Author)
  • Daniel Hübschmann - , Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH) (Author)
  • Moritz Jesinghaus - , University Hospital Gießen and Marburg (Author)
  • Hanno Glimm - , National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Dresden (Author)
  • Stefan Fröhling - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • Nicole Pfarr - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Anna Melissa Schlitter - , German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) (Author)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Appendiceal adenocarcinoma is a rare cancer with very limited therapeutic options. We aimed to determine whether molecular profiling of advanced appendiceal adenocancer can identify actionable therapeutic alterations.

METHODS: We retrospectively analysed cohorts from two large German precision oncology programmes. Patient records and pathology reports from 19 patients with advanced appendiceal adenocarcinoma who were enrolled between 2015 and 2021 were included in this study. We report the molecular features, the resulting molecular tumour board recommendations and their clinical implementation.

RESULTS: In 95% of the tumours, at least one potentially actionable alteration was identified, including mutations in ATM, PIK3CA and AKT1. An elevated tumour mutational burden was identified in 26% of the tumours. A total of 74% of all patients received a molecularly driven treatment recommendation, of which 2 (11%) received the recommended therapy.

CONCLUSION: Molecular profiling of appendiceal adenocarcinomas revealed potentially actionable alterations in a number of cases.

Details

Original languageEnglish
JournalBMJ open gastroenterology
Volume12
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 21 Aug 2025
Peer-reviewedNo

External IDs

PubMedCentral PMC12374629
Scopus 105013960961
ORCID /0009-0003-2782-8190/work/198593809

Keywords

Keywords

  • Humans, Appendiceal Neoplasms/genetics, Female, Male, Adenocarcinoma/genetics, Retrospective Studies, Middle Aged, Precision Medicine/methods, Aged, Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics, Mutation, Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/genetics, Adult, Neoplasm Staging, Aged, 80 and over, Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins/genetics, Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics, Germany