FGFR Fusions in Cancer: From Diagnostic Approaches to Therapeutic Intervention

Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 18;21(18):6856. doi: 10.3390/ijms21186856.

Abstract

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are tyrosine kinase receptors involved in many biological processes. Deregulated FGFR signaling plays an important role in tumor development and progression in different cancer types. FGFR genomic alterations, including FGFR gene fusions that originate by chromosomal rearrangements, represent a promising therapeutic target. Next-generation-sequencing (NGS) approaches have significantly improved the discovery of FGFR gene fusions and their detection in clinical samples. A variety of FGFR inhibitors have been developed, and several studies are trying to evaluate the efficacy of these agents in molecularly selected patients carrying FGFR genomic alterations. In this review, we describe the most frequent FGFR aberrations in human cancer. We also discuss the different approaches employed for the detection of FGFR fusions and the potential role of these genomic alterations as prognostic/predictive biomarkers.

Keywords: FGFR fusions; FGFR inhibitors; cancer; fibroblast growth factor receptors; next generation sequencing.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Fusion
  • Genomics
  • High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy / methods*
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / genetics*
  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor