This year about 12,000 people in the U.S. will be told by a doctor that they have cancer of the soft tissue. Sarcomas develop more commonly in adults, although certain types of sarcoma are found more typically in children.
Soft tissue sarcomas can form almost anywhere in the body, including cartilage, fat, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, and other connective or supportive tissues; osteosarcomas develop in bone, liposarcomas form in fat; rhabdomyosarcomas form in muscle; Ewing sarcomas form in bone and soft tissue; Kaposi sarcoma and uterine sarcoma are other types of soft tissue sarcomas. Because there are many types of soft tissue sarcoma, the cell type must be identified before treatment decisions are made. There are ongoing clinical trials using many forms of therapy in specific types of sarcoma.
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2017
This year about 12,000 people in the U.S. will be told by a doctor that they have cancer of the soft tissue. Sarcomas develop more commonly in adults, although certain types of sarcoma are found more typically in children.
Soft tissue sarcomas can form almost anywhere in the body, including cartilage, fat, muscle, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, and other connective or supportive tissues; osteosarcomas develop in bone, liposarcomas form in fat; rhabdomyosarcomas form in muscle; Ewing sarcomas form in bone and soft tissue; Kaposi sarcoma and uterine sarcoma are other types of soft tissue sarcomas. Because there are many types of soft tissue sarcoma, the cell type must be identified before treatment decisions are made. There are ongoing clinical trials using many forms of therapy in specific types of sarcoma.
Source: National Cancer Institute, 2017
CLICK IMAGE FOR MORE INFORMATIONPIK3CA is a gene that provides the code for making one piece of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) protein, which is an enzyme that is part of an important signaling pathway (PI3K/AKT) involved in controlling the growth, division, survival, nutrient utilization, movement and structure of cells. PIK3CA encodes the catalytic subunit of PI3K, which is the part of the protein that lets it function as an enzyme. PI3K function is tightly maintained in normal cells. The enzymatic activity is activated by specific signals from growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) or from activated RAS proteins. PI3K then generates molecules that attract another enzyme (particularly AKT) to the cell membrane, where it is activated. The activated AKT acts on other proteins that regulate various cell processes that promotes cell growth and survival.
Mutations in PIK3CA lead to enhanced activation of its signaling function, thereby driving the tumorigenic process. These activating mutations are commonly associated with breast and colon cancer, and more rarely with melanoma of the skin. Defects in this gene have also been associated with ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, and liver cancer.
Tumor mutation profiling performed clinically at the MGH Cancer Center has identified PIK3CA mutations across a broad-spectrum of cancer types. The highest incidence of PIK3CA mutations have been found in endometrial cancer (25%), breast cancer (20%), colon cancer (25%) and cancers of the head and neck (10%). In the other major tumor types, PIK3CA mutations have been found in less than 10% of cases that have been tested. The MGH Cancer Center is a world leader in the treatment of PIK3CA mutated tumors, as well as in the number of clinical trials available for treatment with new therapies against tumors with PIK3CA mutations.
Sources: Genetics Home Reference
The PIK3CA gene encodes the p110 alpha catalytic subunit of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) complex. PI3K receives upstream activation signals from growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (e.g. EGFR family members), and in turn signals through AKT and mTOR in order to promote cell survival, cell growth and cellular proliferation. PIK3CA mutations lead to increased activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling. PI3K function is opposed by PTEN, a lipid phosphatase that is often inactivated by mutations or silenced by methylation in many cancers.
Tumor mutation profiling performed clinically at the MGH Cancer Center has identified PIK3CA mutations across a broad-spectrum of cancer types. The highest incidence of PIK3CA mutations have been found in endometrial cancer (25%), breast cancer (20%), colon cancer (25%) and cancers of the head and neck (10%). In the other major tumor types, PIK3CA mutations have been found in less than 10% of cases that have been tested.
Sources: Genetics Home Reference
Liposarcomas have recently been characterized to harbor PIK3CA activating mutations in approximately 18% of cases. A number of targeted agents that inhibit the PI3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are currently undergoing phase I and phase II clinical testing across a number of cancer types, and activating mutations in PIK3CA are entry criteria for some of these investigations. However, the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of PIK3CA-mutated liposarcoma patients has not yet been established.
In myxoid liposarcomas, PIK3CA mutations are associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall survival.
Liposarcomas have recently been characterized to harbor PIK3CA activating mutations in approximately 18% of cases. A number of targeted agents that inhibit the PI3-kinase (PI3K) pathway are currently undergoing phase I and phase II clinical testing across a number of cancer types, and activating mutations in PIK3CA are entry criteria for some of these investigations. However, the effectiveness of these drugs in the treatment of PIK3CA-mutated liposarcoma patients has not yet been established.
In myxoid liposarcomas, PIK3CA mutations are associated with a statistically significant reduction in overall survival.
PubMed ID's
20601955
The mutation of a gene provides clinicians with a very detailed look at your cancer. Knowing this information could change the course of your care. To learn how you can find out more about genetic testing please visit
http://www.massgeneral.org/cancer/news/faq.aspx or contact the Cancer Center.