Targeted massively parallel sequencing of angiosarcomas reveals frequent activation of the mitogen activated protein kinase pathway

INTRODUCTION

Angiosarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal tumors of endothelial differentiation [1]. Risk factors for their development include radiation, chronic lymphedema (e.g. Stewart-Trewes Syndrome) and exogenous toxins (e.g. vinyl chlorides, arsenic, etc.). Solar ultraviolet radiation (UV)-exposure is assumed to be a pathogenetic factor for cutaneous tumors which most frequently arise in the head and neck region in the absence of other risk factors. The breast is the most frequent location in which radiation- and lymphedema-associated angiosarcomas arise. Prognosis is poor with a 5-year overall survival of 35% and a median overall survival of 7 months [2]. Treatment with targeted agents such as sorafenib [3-5] and bevacizumab [6] as well as pazopanib [7, 8] has led to transient partial responses or stable disease in selected patients. Clinical trials are currently evaluating tyrosine kinase inhibitors with anti-angiogenic properties including pazopanib (e.g. NCT01462630, NCT02212015, etc.), axitinib (NCT01140737) and regorafenib (NCT02048722). Despite these attempts however, the overall prognosis for patients with advanced angiosarcoma remains poor, and novel mechanism-based, effective therapeutic modalities are needed.

The genetic alterations responsible for the pathogenesis of angiosarcomas are incompletely understood. Whereas characteristic translocations have been identified in many types of sarcoma, none have been described to date in angiosarcomas [9-11]. Amplification of MYC has been reported in a high percentage of post-radiation angiosarcomas (55-100%) [12-14], being considerably less frequent in angiosarcomas arising in the absence of prior radiation therapy [12, 15]. Amplification of FLT4 (18-25%) and KDR mutations (~10%) have also been described [14, 16, 17]. A recent publication described recurrent R707Q hotspot mutations in the PLCG1 gene (3 of 34 tumors, 9%) as well as mutations in PTPRB [18] (10 of 39 tumors, 26%). Recurrent mutations in PLCG1 R707Q in angiosarcomas were confirmed in a subsequent study [19] (3 of 10 tumors, 30%).

To identify potentially novel genetic alterations that play a role in the pathogenesis and to better understand the distribution of known genetic alterations, we comprehensively genotyped a cohort of 34 angiosarcomas. We used a clinically-approved, hybridization-based next-generation sequencing assay targeting 341 known oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes [20] and additionally sequenced PLCG1 and PTPRB.

RESULTS

Tumors and patients

Tumor samples were obtained from 34 individuals (24 women, 10 men), with a median age of 69 (range 25-85) years. Angiosarcomas arose in skin (n = 22), liver (n = 4), spleen, kidney, adrenal, thyroid, nasal cavity, lymph node and mediastinum (n = 1 each). In one case the origin was unknown. The samples were primary tumors in 26 cases, 3 were a recurrence, 4 were metastases and in 1 case the sample type was not known. FNCLCC (Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer) grades were: grade 1 (n = 1), grade 2 (n = 14) and grade 3 (n = 18). Seven tumors developed following radiation therapy, and 9 tumors arose on the head and neck in areas with considerable cumulative sun exposure.

Genomic alterations (mutations and copy number variations)

Median Sequencing coverage exceeded 165x in 31 tumors. In 3 cases, the median coverage was < 100x, but still allowed identification of hotspot mutations.

MAPK pathway alterations

Alterations involving the MAPK pathway were identified in 18 (53%) tumors. In 9 tumors, hotspot mutations in KRAS (G12), HRAS (A59, Q61), NRAS (Q61), BRAF (V600) and MAPK1 (E322) were observed. CNAs, including focal amplifications in MAPK1/CRKL (chr22q11), CRAF (chr3p25) or broad chromosomal gains on chr7 including BRAF were seen in 8 tumors (Figures 1 + 2). One tumor showed an inactivating NF1 intragenic deletion as a mechanism for activating the MAPK pathway. The tumor positive for a KRAS G12D mutation also harbored a known activating GNAQ R183Q mutation, albeit at varying allelic frequencies (KRAS G12D at 6%, GNAQ R183Q at 30%), suggesting that the sample may be heterogeneous and that the KRAS mutant allele may be present in a sub-clone. With the exception of the tumor with GNAQ and KRAS co-mutation, all MAPK-activating hotspot mutations appeared to be mutually exclusive of each other and amplifications of MAPK pathway genes (Figure 3).

Additional gene mutations (non-MAPK)

TP53 mutations were the most frequently identified mutations (n = 12, 35%). Virtually all TP53 mutations (n = 11, 92%) were in samples lacking MYC amplifications. PTPRB mutations were identified in 10 samples, and 6 (60% of the mutations, identified in 20% of the tumors) of these were clearly inactivating (nonsense or frameshift) mutations. The putatively activating hotspot mutation in PLCG1 (R707) was observed in one (3%) tumor. Additional loss-of-function mutations were detected in ATRX (n = 4), MLL2 (n = 2) and ASXL1 (n = 1) (Figure 1). Two missense mutations in KDR were identified (Table 1).

Copy number alterations (non-MAPK)

Copy number information was obtained for all samples sequenced by the MSK-IMPACT assay (Figures 4 + 5). Additionally, eight samples were analyzed by array CGH, of which representative examples are shown in Supplemental Figures 1 + 2. The most frequent genetic loss (n = 9, 26%) affected 9p21, which includes the CDKN2A locus (Figures 4 + 5). CDKN2A losses were only found in samples arising without known prior-irradiation, all of which lacked MYC amplifications (Figure 5, Supplemental Figure 1).

Focal MYC amplifications were identified in 8 (24%) angiosarcomas, VEGFR2 (KDR) amplifications in 4 (12%) tumors (Figure 1). Two samples harbored FLT4 amplifications (Figure 5, Supplemental Figure 1). MYC amplifications were significantly more frequent in angiosarcomas known to be associated with previous radiation (7/7 = 100%) than in those with no history of prior irradiation (1/27 = 4%; p < 0.0001). Five cases with MYC amplifications (63%) harbored concurrent MAPK-activating mutations (Figures 2 + 4). Both samples found to have FLT4 amplifications were in MYC amplified tumors arising post-radiation (Supplemental Figure 1). Aside from MYC amplifications, which were identified in all samples with known prior radiation therapy, KLT4 amplifications were also found to be statistically significantly associated with previous radiation exposure (2/7 samples with previous radiation vs. 0/27 without previous radiation; p = 0.004).

DISCUSSION

We identified a number of known genetic alterations in angiosarcomas, including MYC and KLT4 amplifications, RAS mutations, inactivating PTPRB mutations and an activating PLCG1 mutation. In more than half of the tumors, we found genetic alterations activating the MAPK pathway. The clinical ramifications of this finding could be significant, in that MEK inhibitors or other inhibitors of the MAPK pathway may be promising therapeutic approaches for patients with advanced angiosarcoma.

The individual genetic events activating the MAPK pathway were often mutually exclusive (Figure 3), particularly when activating hotspot mutations were present. Generally gene copy number gains are not as strongly activating as mutations leading to constitutive activation of the affected protein, which probably explains why copy number increases in MAPK genes were more frequently found to co-occur than activating mutations. This data strongly supports MAPK pathway alteration being an important common mechanism for angiosarcoma development. Presumably, strong activation of MAPK signaling allows tumor cells to continuously proliferate and, if associated with additional genetic events, transform into a malignant neoplasm. The other 47% of tumors in which no MAPK pathway activating event was identified may harbor genetic events with similar functional consequences; these events might not have been assessed in our current screen and/or may not yet be recognized as oncogenic in human malignancies.

From a therapeutic perspective, our findings provide support for targeting the MAPK pathway in many patients with angiosarcoma. In some cases, mutation-specific therapies may be available (e.g. BRAF V600E). In other cases in which specific inhibitors directly targeting the genetic alterations are not yet available, or no tumor-specific alteration is detected, targeting common downstream molecules of the MAPK pathway, for instance MEK with MEK inhibitors might prove to be a promising therapeutic approach. Potentially combining MAPK pathway inhibitors with other tumor-specific inhibitors, such as agents targeting MYC signaling (in MYC-amplified tumors) has the potential to significantly increase the efficacy of therapeutic regimens.

For a wide range of human malignancies, a very successful alternative therapeutic approach to small molecules with cell intrinsic inhibition of signaling pathways, has been the introduction of immune therapies in particular antibodies inhibiting PD-1 as well CTLA-4 [21-24]. Impressive response rates as well as significant numbers of long-term responses have been reported [23, 25]. Although not currently described to our knowledge, treatment with immunotherapeutic agents such as PD-1 antibodies should be considered as a possible treatment strategy for patients with advanced angiosarcomas.

We identified one activating R183Q hotspot mutation in GNAQ. Activating GNAQ mutations were originally described in melanocytic tumors and frequently occur in blue nevi, uveal melanomas [26] and central nervous system melanocytomas [27, 28]. Recently, exon 4 R183 mutations of GNAQ were identified in port-wine hemangionas and vascular tumors in Sturge-Weber syndrome [29]. These vascular tumors can predispose to the development of angiosarcoma. Unfortunately, in our patient harboring the GNAQ mutation, clinical information about an existing predisposing vascular lesion was not available. It would however be particularly intriguing for future studies to analyze if angiosarcomas arising in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome are found to frequently harbor activating mutations in GNAQ. If this were the case, it could have therapeutic consequences, as approaches targeting downstream activation of GNAQ have shown promise in mouse models of GNAQ-mutated uveal melanoma [30-32] and patients with these tumors have entered clinical trials (NCT01801358). Potentially patients with angiosarcomas harboring GNAQ mutations could benefit from the same therapeutic approaches.

As reported in previous studies [12-14, 17], MYC amplifications were frequent in our cohort (8 of 34 = 24%), further supporting MYC copy number increase as a major activating genetic event in these tumors. MYC copy number increases were found in all seven tumors known to have arisen post-irradiation, strongly supporting MYC amplifications being a major event in this angiosarcoma subtype. However, although MYC clearly appears to play a very relevant role in these tumors, more than half of the MYC-amplified samples (5 of 8) were also found to harbor genetic alterations activating the MAPK pathway (either mutation or copy number gain). Three samples harbored Q61 RAS mutations, one a NF1 deletion and one had concurrent activating GNAQ R183Q and KRAS G12D mutations. The tumor harboring a PLCG1 R707Q mutation also harbored a MYC amplification. These data suggest that in addition to MYC amplifications, ancillary gain-of-function genetic events are necessary to enable full development of an aggressive tumor.

FLT4 amplifications were identified in samples with previous radiotherapy at a frequency (2/7 = 29%) comparable to previous reports (18-25%) [14, 17]. The MYC amplification rate of 100% in tumors arising post-irradiation (7/7) we observed is in line with other studies [13, 14]. Both KDR mutations and amplifications occurred in tumors not known to be radiation associated (Table1, Supplemental Figure 1), with a mutation frequency (6%, n = 2) comparable to previous reports [16]. These data underline the alterations we observed in these genes in our tumor cohort are comparable to findings reported by other groups.

Most TP53 mutations or deletions (11/12, 92%) and all CDKN2A losses occurred in tumors lacking MYC amplification. TP53 mutations are frequent in UV-induced tumors and often carry a UV-signature [33, 34]; 71% of TP53 mutations were C > T alterations, consistent with UV-induction. The distribution pattern may at least in part be explained by different pathogenic mechanisms: UV-exposure predisposing to tumors with TP53 mutations, and radiation predisposing to angiosarcomas with MYC amplifications [12, 13]. Why CDKN2A losses were found only in non-irradiated, non-MYC amplified samples may be more difficult to explain, as UV-exposure is, to our knowledge, not clearly linked to DNA copy number alterations. The distribution does however clearly signify differing pathogenetic mechanisms, with tumors either prone to having TP53 alterations and/or CDKN2A losses, or acquiring MYC amplifications. Future functional studies may reveal the reason for the relative mutual exclusivity of MYC amplifications with alterations of TP53 and CDKN2A.

Recently described mutations affecting PTPRB were found in 10 samples (29%), 4 being missense and 6 inactivating, representing nonsense or frameshift mutations (Table1). As PTPRB consists of well over 6000 base pairs (depending on the splice variant), it is possible the relatively high frequency of mutations observed is at least partly due to the size of the gene (larger genes having a higher chance of acquiring mutations). The frequency of PLCG1 R707Q mutations (1 of 34 = 3%) in our study was lower than in other reports, which have reported mutation frequencies ranging between 9% and 30% [18, 19]. The identification of this mutation in three studies, all leading to an identical amino acid change, indicates that these mutations are relevant pathogenic events in angiosarcoma. Overall, however, these mutations appear to be relatively uncommon, explaining only a minority of cases (pooled frequency of 9% [7 of 78 tumors] from all three studies). Studies analyzing the functional consequences of both PTPRB and PLCG1 will be required before it will be possible to assess whether targeting these mutations may be a viable therapeutic approach for patients with tumors harboring these mutations.

A limitation of our study is that detailed clinical data, including therapy and follow-up information was not available. It would be interesting to see if some of the genetic alterations observed are associated with parameters such as treatment response and patient survival; however, since the genetic alterations identified are very heterogenous, such analysis would require larger sample numbers with detailed clinical follow-up data to allow a meaningful assessment of the clinical consequences of individual genetic alterations.

In summary, our study shows that angiosarcomas are pathogenetically heterogenous tumors, characterized by a range of different genetic events. Whereas the functional and clinical ramifications of some of these events, such as the recently identified PLCG1 and PTPRB mutations will require further study, we found that more than half of the tumors had genetic alterations clearly linked to the MAPK signaling pathway. Almost all currently effective small inhibitor therapeutic approaches in oncology either directly or indirectly dampen the increased signaling output generated by gain-of-function genetic events. Our data showing MAPK-activating events in more than half of angiosarcomas supports the thesis that for patients with these tumors, targeting the MAPK pathway might prove to be a promising therapeutic approach.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sample selection and histopathology

Angiosarcoma tumor samples were obtained from patients treated in the Department of Dermatology and Pathology of the University Hospital Essen (21 cases), Dermatopathology Duisburg (2 cases) and Dermatopathology Friedrichshafen, Germany (11 cases). Tumor slides were reviewed by at least two experienced histopathologists (T.M., J.S., U.H., K.G.G., R.M.). Histological details are listed in Table 2. The study was done in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the ethics committee of the University of Duisburg-Essen.

DNA isolation

10µm-thick sections were cut from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. The sections were deparaffinized and manually microdissected according to standard procedures. Genomic DNA was isolated using the QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) according to the manufacturer’s instructions. DNA from frozen tissue was directly applied to the Qiagen kit for purification.

Copy number analysis

Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to perform analysis of DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) in 8 cases. The methods for hybridization and analysis, including GISTIC 2.0 statistical analysis, have been described previously [35-38]. Whole genome amplification was performed using Sigma’s GenomePlex® Single Cell Whole Genome Amplification Kit as described previously [39].

Hybridization-capture based next-generation sequencing for known oncogene mutations

Custom DNA probes were designed for targeted sequencing of all exons and selected introns of 341 oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes [20]. Briefly, genomic DNA from tumor samples was used to prepare barcoded libraries using the KAPA HTP protocol (Kapa Biosystems, Wilmington, MA) and the Biomek FX system (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA). Libraries were pooled, captured and subsequently sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 system as paired-end reads. Sequenced reads were trimmed to remove vestigial adaptor sequences using TrimGalore [40], and were aligned to the hg19 human reference genome using BWA [41]. PCR duplicates were removed from the alignment output, and the aligned reads were subjected to local indel realignment and base quality recalibration using GATK [42]. Somatic variant calling was performed using MuTect [43] for single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and SomaticIndelDetector [42] for indels. Significant copy number gains and losses were detected by requiring a greater-than two-fold change in normalized coverage between tumor and a comparator reference FFPE normal. Somatic structural variants were detected using DELLY [44], requiring both paired-end and split-read support.

PLCG1 and PTPRB sequencing

A custom amplicon panel covering the PLCG1 (75 amplicons, covering 4494 of 4613 coding bases) and PTPRB genes (107 amplicons, covering all 7402 coding bases) was designed and prepared applying the GeneRead Library Prep Kit from QIAGEN® according to the manufacturer’s instructions. NEBNext Ultra DNA Library Prep Mastermix Set and NEBNext Multiplex Oligos for Illumina from New England Biolabs were applied for adapter ligation and barcoding and 24 samples sequenced in parallel on an Illumina MiSeq. Sequence reads were aligned to the human reference sequence (hg19) using BWA and post-processed using tools from GATK and Picard for indel realignment and base quality recalibration. Variant calling for SNVs and indels was performed using a combination of MuTect [43] and Varscan [45]. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) corresponding to common population variants were filtered out by removing variants with greater than 1% prevalence in the 1000 genomes cohort. Mutations were reported if they were predicted to result in non-synonymous alterations in protein-coding DNA sequences, and if the overall coverage of the mutation site was ≥50 reads, with ≥20 mutant reads and the variant allele frequency was ≥5%. The criteria for reporting known oncogenic hotspots from COSMIC [46] or TCGA [47, 48] was less stringent: ≥10 mutant reads and variant allele frequency ≥2%.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We appreciate the technical assistance by Nadine Stadler and Nicole Bielefeld.

GRANT SUPPORT

The project was funded in part by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR3671/3-1) to KGG, the Werner Jackstädt Stiftung to KGG, and by the Jubilaeumsfonds of the Austrian National Bank (#15461) to TW and by the MSK Cancer Center Support Grant from the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA008748)..

CONFLICTs OF INTEREST

Bastian Schilling has received honoraria from Roche and travel support from Bristol-Meyers Squibb. Dirk Schadendorf is on the advisory board or has received honoraria from Roche, Genentech, Novartis, Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Merck. The remaining authors have no disclosures

Authors’ contributions

Literature search: R.M., K.G.G., D.S., R.M., T.W., T.M. Study design: R.M., T.M. K.G.G. S.L.S., K.G.G., D.S. Data collection: K.G.G., I.M., S.L.S., M.M., B.S., A.S., T.S., U.H., S.B., J.S., F.G., T.M., T.W. Data analysis: K.G.G., D.C., R.C., T.W., R.M., M.M., T.M. Data interpretation: K.G.G., R.M., R.C., D.C., T.W., M.M., D.S., S.B., B.S., M.B., K.H, A.V., M.P., N.S., N.B. Manuscript writing: all authors.

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