[SMARCA4-deficient thoracic tumors: A new entity]

Bull Cancer. 2020 Jan;107(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2019.12.001. Epub 2020 Jan 6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

A growing number of studies suggest a tumor suppressor role for the SWI/SNF complex involved in the remodeling of chromatin. Alterations of this complex have been found in many tumors of different origins, with topographic, morphologic and phenotypic diversity. Notably, they define 2 types of thoracic tumors: SMARCA4-deficient non-small cell lung carcinoma and SMARCA4-deficient sarcoma. Some clinical features appear to be common to both, such as intrathoracic localization, smoking exposure, male predominance and poor prognosis. However, the histological distinction between these two entities is sometimes difficult and it is not excluded that these entities belong to the same tumor spectrum with different degrees of differentiation. The therapy of these tumors is not yet codified. These tumors do not seem associated with oncogenic driver mutations allowing the prescription of targeted therapy, but immunotherapy has been shown to be effective in rare reported cases. More specific treatments using EZH2 inhibitors also seem promising in SMARCA4 deficient sarcomas.

Keywords: BRG1; CBNPC; NSCLC; SMARCA4; SWI/SNF complex.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / therapy
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly* / genetics
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly* / physiology
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures
  • DNA Helicases / deficiency*
  • DNA Helicases / physiology
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / genetics
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mediastinal Neoplasms / therapy
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Multiprotein Complexes / drug effects
  • Multiprotein Complexes / physiology
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Neoplasm Proteins / deficiency*
  • Neoplasm Proteins / physiology
  • Nuclear Proteins / deficiency*
  • Nuclear Proteins / physiology
  • SMARCB1 Protein / physiology
  • Sarcoma / genetics*
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Sarcoma / therapy
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thoracic Neoplasms / therapy
  • Transcription Factors / deficiency*
  • Transcription Factors / physiology

Substances

  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • SMARCA2 protein, human
  • SMARCB1 Protein
  • SMARCB1 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors
  • EZH2 protein, human
  • Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
  • SMARCA4 protein, human
  • DNA Helicases