Walter D1,2, Döring C2, Feldhahn M3, Battke F3, Hartmann S2, Winkelmann R2, Schneider M2, Bankov K1, Schnitzbauer A4, Zeuzem S1, Hansmann ML2, Peveling-Oberhag J1,2,5.
Abstract
No personalized therapy regimens could demonstrate a benefit in survival of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Since genetic heterogeneity might influence single biopsy based targeted therapy or the outcome of clinical trials, aim of the present study was to investigate intratumoral heterogeneity of iCCA by whole exome sequencing. Therefore, samples from tumor center and tumor periphery of large iCCA lesions as well as a control from healthy liver tissue were obtained from four patients and whole exome sequencing was performed. Mutations that occurred only in the tumor center or periphery were defined as private, whereas mutations present in both samples were regarded as common. A mean of 3 non-synonymous private mutations (range 0-14) per sample compared to 33,3 common mutations per sample (range 24-41) was identified. Mean percentage of non-synonymous private mutations per sample was 12% (range 0-58). In all samples of patient 1-3 as well as the central sample of patient 4 ≤ 10% private mutations were found, whereas 58% of private mutations were identified in the peripheral sample of patient 4. In this sample a private mutation in the DNA mismatch repair protein MSH6 could be identified most likely causing the high amount of private mutations. No substantial intratumoral heterogeneity was found in copy number variation analysis. In conclusion, iCCA show a small but distinct intratumoral heterogeneity. Somatic mutations in mismatch repair proteins might contribute significantly to increased spatial tumor burden and thereby may influence clinical management.
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. dirk.walter@kgu.de.
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. dirk.walter@kgu.de.
- CeGaT GmbH, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Hospital, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany.
- Department for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Robert-Bosch Hospital, 70376 Stuttgart, Germany.