A clinical screening tool to detect genetic cancer predisposition in pediatric oncology shows high sensitivity but can miss a substantial percentage of affected children.

PURPOSE: Clinical checklists are the standard of care to determine whether a child with cancer shows indications for genetic testing. Nevertheless, the efficacy of these tests to reliably detect genetic cancer predisposition in children with cancer is still insufficiently investigated. METHODS: We assessed the validity of clinically recognizable signs to identify cancer predisposition by correlating a state-of-the-art clinical checklist to the corresponding exome sequencing analysis in an unselected single-center cohort of 139 child-parent data sets. RESULTS: In total, one-third of patients had a clinical indication for genetic testing according to current recommendations, and 10.1% (14 of 139) of children harbored a cancer predisposition. Of these, 71.4% (10 of 14) were identified through the clinical checklist. In addition, >2 clinical findings in the checklist increased the likelihood to identifying genetic predisposition from 12.5% to 50%. Furthermore, our data revealed a high rate of genetic predisposition (40%, 4 of 10) in myelodysplastic syndrome cases, while no (likely) pathogenic variants were identified in the sarcoma and lymphoma group. CONCLUSION: In summary, our data show high checklist sensitivity, particularly in identifying childhood cancer predisposition syndromes. Nevertheless, the checklist used here also missed 29% of children with a cancer predisposition, highlighting the drawbacks of sole clinical evaluation and underlining the need for routine germline sequencing in pediatric oncology.

De novo PHF5A variants are associated with craniofacial abnormalities, developmental delay, and hypospadias.

PURPOSE: The SF3B splicing complex is composed of SF3B1-6 and PHF5A. We report a developmental disorder caused by de novo variants in PHF5A. METHODS: Clinical, genomic, and functional studies using subject-derived fibroblasts and a heterologous cellular system were performed. RESULTS: We studied 9 subjects with congenital malformations, including preauricular tags and hypospadias, growth abnormalities, and developmental delay who had de novo heterozygous PHF5A variants, including 4 loss-of-function (LOF), 3 missense, 1 splice, and 1 start-loss variant. In subject-derived fibroblasts with PHF5A LOF variants, wild-type and variant PHF5A mRNAs had a 1:1 ratio, and PHF5A mRNA levels were normal. Transcriptome sequencing revealed alternative promoter use and downregulated genes involved in cell-cycle regulation. Subject and control fibroblasts had similar amounts of PHF5A with the predicted wild-type molecular weight and of SF3B1-3 and SF3B6. SF3B complex formation was unaffected in 2 subject cell lines. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest the existence of feedback mechanisms in fibroblasts with PHF5A LOF variants to maintain normal levels of SF3B components. These compensatory mechanisms in subject fibroblasts with PHF5A or SF3B4 LOF variants suggest disturbed autoregulation of mutated splicing factor genes in specific cell types, that is, neural crest cells, during embryonic development rather than haploinsufficiency as pathomechanism.

Frequency of the necessity of dentoalveolar surgery or conservative treatment in patients before kidney transplantation depending on the duration of dialysis and causative nephrological disease.

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study evaluates intraoral surgical and conservative treatment need in patients with a chronic kidney end-stage disease, depending on the duration of dialysis treatment and the causative nephrological disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study is based on data of patients referred to the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery of the University Hospital Erlangen, Germany, prior to kidney transplantation between January 2015 and March 2020. The necessity for oral surgical or dental therapy was determined by clinical and radiological examinations. Data on renal replacement therapy, cause of underlying renal disease, lifestyle, and general health were collected. RESULTS: Data of N = 89 patients demonstrated that surgical treatment need depends on dialysis duration (p = 0.042). Patients, who had been dialyzing for 2 to 3 years showed the highest need for surgical intervention (80.0%; p = 0.024), followed by dialysis patients with a dialysis time of more than 3 years (48.1%). Similarly, dialysis patients in the second or third year of dialysis had the highest need for conservative treatment (73.3%; p > 0.05), followed by 55.6% of dialysis patients in the third year of dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Operative and conservative treatment is essential to optimize subsequent kidney transplantation. The greatest necessity could be detected for patients in the second and third years of dialysis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Oral health addressing surgical and conservative treatment need depends on the duration of dialysis in patients with a chronic kidney end-stage disease.

Biallelic UBE4A loss-of-function variants cause intellectual disability and global developmental delay.

PURPOSE: To identify novel genes associated with intellectual disability (ID) in four unrelated families. METHODS: Here, through exome sequencing and international collaboration, we report eight individuals from four unrelated families of diverse geographic origin with biallelic loss-of-function variants in UBE4A. RESULTS: Eight evaluated individuals presented with syndromic intellectual disability and global developmental delay. Other clinical features included hypotonia, short stature, seizures, and behavior disorder. Characteristic features were appreciated in some individuals but not all; in some cases, features became more apparent with age. We demonstrated that UBE4A loss-of-function variants reduced RNA expression and protein levels in clinical samples. Mice generated to mimic patient-specific Ube4a loss-of-function variant exhibited muscular and neurological/behavioral abnormalities, some of which are suggestive of the clinical abnormalities seen in the affected individuals. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that biallelic loss-of-function variants in UBE4A cause a novel intellectual disability syndrome, suggesting that UBE4A enzyme activity is required for normal development and neurological function.

Oral health of patients suffering from end-stage solid organ insufficiency prior to solid organ re-transplantation: a retrospective case series study.

BACKGROUND: The oral health of organ transplanted patients before organ re-transplantation is largely unknown. This retrospective clinical study evaluates the necessity for intraoral surgical intervention and/or conservative treatment in candidates awaiting organ re-transplantation, both for graft failure and for reasons of another upcoming solid organ transplantation (renal or non-renal). METHODS: From January 2015 to March 2020 n = 19 transplant recipients in evaluation on the waiting list for solid organ re-transplantation could be included in the retrospective case series study. Using clinical and radiological examinations, necessity for oral surgical or conservative dental treatment was evaluated. On the basis of anamnesis data, current kidney function, renal replacement treatment (RRT), and medication, a risk profile for several patient subgroups was created. RESULTS: The clinical and radiological examinations showed a conservative and/or surgical treatment need in n = 13 cases (68.42%). In n = 7 cases (36.84%) surgical intervention was recommended due to residual root remnants (n = 5), unclear mucosal changes (n = 1), and periimplantitis (n = 1). In n = 16 recipients (84.2%) RRT (n = 15 hemodialysis; n = 1 peritoneal dialysis) had been performed. N = 14 recipients (73.68%) received immunosuppressants. In n = 1 patient (5.3%) displayed intraoral and n = 4 patients (21.1%) extraoral neoplasms due to drug-induced immunosuppression. CONCLUSIONS: Solid organ transplant recipients with renal failure present a complex treatment profile due to a double burden of uremia plus immunosuppressants. In cases of surgical treatment need a hospitalized setting is recommended, where potentially necessary follow-up care and close cooperation with disciplines of internal medicine is possible in order to avoid surgical and/or internal complications.

Metastatic adult pancreatoblastoma: Multimodal treatment and molecular characterization of a very rare disease.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatoblastoma is a rare malignancy that occurs predominantly in children. Less than 50 adult cases, including 17 patients with metastatic disease, have been published to date. Recent outcome data from children with advanced-stage disease suggest an intensive multimodal treatment approach; however, little is known about the most beneficial therapy in adults. Molecular characterization of pancreatoblastoma is limited to a small number of pediatric cases and revealed few recurrent genetic events without immediate clinical relevance. METHODS: Patients were treated between 2013 and 2018 at a high-volume German university cancer center. Molecular analyses included whole genome, exome, transcriptome, and fusion gene panel sequencing. Molecularly guided treatment recommendations were discussed within a dedicated molecular tumor board (MTB) embedded in a precision oncology program (NCT MASTER). RESULTS: We identified four adult patients with metastatic pancreatoblastoma. In three patients, local approaches were combined with systemic treatment. Oxaliplatin-containing protocols showed an acceptable tumor control as well as an adequate toxicity profile. Overall survival was 15, 17, 18 and 24 months, respectively. Three tumors harbored genetic alterations involving the FGFR pathway that included an oncogenic FGFR2 fusion. CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy seems to be a reasonable approach in adult patients with advanced pancreatoblastoma, whereas the benefit of intensified treatment including local ablative techniques or surgical resection remains unclear. Our finding of FGFR alterations in three of four cases indicates a potential role of FGFR signaling in adult pancreatoblastoma whose clinical significance warrants further study.

ZBTB48 is both a vertebrate telomere-binding protein and a transcriptional activator.

Telomeres constitute the ends of linear chromosomes and together with the shelterin complex form a structure essential for genome maintenance and stability. In addition to the constitutive binding of the shelterin complex, other direct, yet more transient interactions are mediated by the CST complex and HOT1/HMBOX1, while subtelomeric variant repeats are recognized by NR2C/F transcription factors. Recently, the Kruppel-like zinc finger protein ZBTB48/HKR3/TZAP has been described as a novel telomere-associated factor in the vertebrate lineage. Here, we show that ZBTB48 binds directly both to telomeric and to subtelomeric variant repeat sequences. ZBTB48 is found at telomeres of human cancer cells regardless of the mode of telomere maintenance and it acts as a negative regulator of telomere length. In addition to its telomeric function, we demonstrate through a combination of RNAseq, ChIPseq and expression proteomics experiments that ZBTB48 acts as a transcriptional activator on a small set of target genes, including mitochondrial fission process 1 (MTFP1). This discovery places ZBTB48 at the interface of telomere length regulation, transcriptional control and mitochondrial metabolism.

Novel VPS33B mutation in a patient with autosomal recessive keratoderma-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome.

Autosomal recessive keratoderma-ichthyosis-deafness (ARKID) syndrome is a rare multisystem disorder caused by biallelic mutations in VPS33B; only three patients have been reported to date. ARKID syndrome is allelic to arthrogryposis-renal dysfunction-cholestasis (ARC) syndrome (MIM #208085), a severe disorder with early lethality whose phenotypic characteristics also include ichthyosis, hearing loss, severe failure to thrive, platelet dysfunction and osteopenia. We report on an 11-year-old male patient with ARKID syndrome and compound heterozygous VPS33B mutations, one of which [c.1440delG; p.(Arg481Glyfs*11)] was novel. Clinical features of this patient included ichthyosis, palmoplantar keratosis, hearing loss, intellectual disability, unilateral hip dislocation, microcephaly and short stature. He also had copper hepatopathy and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, features that have so far been associated with neither ARKID nor ARC syndrome. The patient broadens the clinical and molecular spectrum of ARKID syndrome and contributes to genotype-phenotype associations of this rare disorder.

Identification of Succinate Dehydrogenase Gene Variant Carriers by Blood Biomarkers.

Background: Carriers of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in succinate dehydrogenase genes (SDHx) are at risk of developing tumors, including paragangliomas, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and renal cell carcinomas. Early tumor detection is paramount for improved clinical outcome. Blood-based biomarkers could aid in identifying individuals with PVs early and provide functional evidence in patients with variants of unknown significance. Methods: Blood plasma, urine, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and erythrocytes from patients with and without SDHx PVs were investigated for central carbon metabolites. These were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and included among others, succinate, fumarate, α-ketoglutarate, and lactate. Results: Plasma succinate to fumarate ratios effectively distinguished tumor-bearing and asymptomatic patients with and without SDHx PV with promising diagnostic performance (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.86-0.95), although higher levels were noted in individuals with SDHB PV. Metabolites in urine and in peripheral blood mononuclear cell extracts were largely similar between groups. Erythrocytes showed strong metabolic alterations in patients with SDHx PV compared to controls, with 8 of 13 low-molecular organic acids being significantly different (P < .05). The lactate-α-ketoglutarate-ratio of erythrocytes identified individuals with SDHx PV equally well as plasma, with a sensitivity and specificity of 92% (AUC 0.97). Conclusion: Blood biomarkers have been underutilized for identifying carriers of SDHx PV or to validate variants of unknown significance. Our findings advocate for further investigation into a combined approach involving plasma and erythrocytes for future diagnostic strategies.

Lifestyle Factors and Breast Cancer in Females with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS).

Females with PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) have breast cancer risks up to 76%. This study assessed associations between breast cancer and lifestyle in European female adult PHTS patients. Data were collected via patient questionnaires (July 2020-March 2023) and genetic diagnoses from medical files. Associations between lifestyle and breast cancer were calculated using logistic regression corrected for age. Index patients with breast cancer before PHTS diagnosis (breast cancer index) were excluded for ascertainment bias correction. In total, 125 patients were included who completed the questionnaire at a mean age of 44 years (SD = 13). This included 21 breast cancer indexes (17%) and 39 females who developed breast cancer at 43 years (SD = 9). Breast cancer patients performed about 1.1 times less often 0-1 times/week physical activity than ≥2 times (ORtotal-adj = 0.9 (95%CI 0.3-2.6); consumed daily about 1.2-1.8 times more often ≥1 than 0-1 glasses of alcohol (ORtotal-adj = 1.2 (95%CI 0.4-4.0); ORnon-breastcancer-index-adj = 1.8 (95%CI 0.4-6.9); were about 1.04-1.3 times more often smokers than non-smokers (ORtotal-adj = 1.04 (95%CI 0.4-2.8); ORnon-breastcancer-index-adj = 1.3 (95%CI 0.4-4.2)); and overweight or obesity (72%) was about 1.02-1.3 times less common (ORtotal-adj = 0.98 (95%CI 0.4-2.6); ORnon-breastcancer-index-adj = 0.8 (95%CI 0.3-2.7)). Similar associations between lifestyle and breast cancer are suggested for PHTS and the general population. Despite not being statistically significant, results are clinically relevant and suggest that awareness of the effects of lifestyle on patients' breast cancer risk is important.

Peculiarities in the panoramic radiograph of patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to terminal renal disease: a radiologic controlled comparative study.

OBJECTIVES: The present radiological observational controlled study aims to evaluate the impact of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) due to chronic kidney disease (CKD) as well as the duration of dialysis on the mineralization of the mandible by standardized qualitative evaluation of digital panoramic radiographs. METHODS: Panoramic radiographs of CKD patients with SHPT and healthy controls were used for the qualitative analysis of the mandibular cortical index (MCI), the trabecular bone pattern (TBP), and calcification and resorption foci. Radiomorphometric indices were correlated to biochemical parameters and the duration of dialysis using the Spearman Rho test. Group comparisons were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test at a significance level of α ≤ 0.05. Interrater reliability of two physicians was estimated using Cohen's kappa. RESULTS: Inclusion and exclusion criteria were fulfilled by N = 41 patients. Statistically significant differences in the MCI (p < 0.001) as well as the TBP (p = 0.002) could be detected for the experimental group in comparison to the healthy control group. Focusing on calcification and resorption foci, no statistically significant difference could be detected between the groups (p = 0.244). The level of the detected parathyroid hormone (PTH) significantly correlated with TBP (Rho = 0.338; p = 0.031), while no significant relationship between TBP and the duration of the dialysis could be found. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with SHPT due to CKD show statistically significant bone changes in the panoramic radiograph, whereby the grade of trabecular bone change correlates to PTH values.

Targeted therapy of advanced parathyroid carcinoma guided by genomic and transcriptomic profiling.

Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an ultra-rare malignancy with a high risk of recurrence after surgery. Tumour-directed systemic treatments for PC are not established. We used whole-genome and RNA sequencing in four patients with advanced PC to identify molecular alterations that could guide clinical management. In two cases, the genomic and transcriptomic profiles provided targets for experimental therapies that resulted in biochemical response and prolonged disease stabilization: (a) immune checkpoint inhibition with pembrolizumab based on high tumour mutational burden and a single-base substitution signature associated with APOBEC (apolipoprotein B mRNA editing enzyme, catalytic polypeptide-like) overactivation; (b) multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition with lenvatinib due to overexpression of FGFR1 (Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1) and RET (Ret Proto-Oncogene) and, (c) later in the course of the disease, PARP (Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase) inhibition with olaparib prompted by signs of defective homologous recombination DNA repair. In addition, our data provided new insights into the molecular landscape of PC with respect to the genome-wide footprints of specific mutational processes and pathogenic germline alterations. These data underscore the potential of comprehensive molecular analyses to improve care for patients with ultra-rare cancers based on insight into disease biology.

NCT/DKFZ MASTER handbook of interpreting whole-genome, transcriptome, and methylome data for precision oncology.

Analysis of selected cancer genes has become an important tool in precision oncology but cannot fully capture the molecular features and, most importantly, vulnerabilities of individual tumors. Observational and interventional studies have shown that decision-making based on comprehensive molecular characterization adds significant clinical value. However, the complexity and heterogeneity of the resulting data are major challenges for disciplines involved in interpretation and recommendations for individualized care, and limited information exists on how to approach multilayered tumor profiles in clinical routine. We report our experience with the practical use of data from whole-genome or exome and RNA sequencing and DNA methylation profiling within the MASTER (Molecularly Aided Stratification for Tumor Eradication Research) program of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and Dresden and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). We cover all relevant steps of an end-to-end precision oncology workflow, from sample collection, molecular analysis, and variant prioritization to assigning treatment recommendations and discussion in the molecular tumor board. To provide insight into our approach to multidimensional tumor profiles and guidance on interpreting their biological impact and diagnostic and therapeutic implications, we present case studies from the NCT/DKFZ molecular tumor board that illustrate our daily practice. This manual is intended to be useful for physicians, biologists, and bioinformaticians involved in the clinical interpretation of genome-wide molecular information.

Cancer risks by sex and variant type in PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome.

BACKGROUND: PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) is a rare syndrome with a broad phenotypic spectrum, including increased risks of breast (BC, 67%-78% at age 60 years), endometrial (EC, 19%-28%), and thyroid cancer (TC, 6%-38%). Current risks are likely overestimated due to ascertainment bias. We aimed to provide more accurate and personalized cancer risks. METHODS: This was a European, adult PHTS cohort study with data from medical files, registries, and/or questionnaires. Cancer risks and hazard ratios were assessed with Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses, and standardized incidence ratios were calculated. Bias correction consisted of excluding cancer index cases and incident case analyses. RESULTS: A total of 455 patients were included, including 50.5% index cases, 372 with prospective follow-up (median 6 years, interquartile range = 3-10 years), and 159 of 281 females and 39 of 174 males with cancer. By age 60 years, PHTS-related cancer risk was higher in females (68.4% to 86.3%) than males (16.4% to 20.8%). Female BC risks ranged from 54.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 43.0% to 66.4%) to 75.8% (95% CI = 60.7% to 88.4%), with two- to threefold increased risks for PTEN truncating and approximately twofold for phosphatase domain variants. EC risks ranged from 6.4% (95% CI = 2.1% to 18.6%) to 22.1% (95% CI = 11.6% to 39.6%) and TC risks from 8.9% (95% CI = 5.1% to 15.3%) to 20.5% (95% CI = 11.3% to 35.4%). Colorectal cancer, renal cancer, and melanoma risks were each less than 10.0%. CONCLUSIONS: Females have a different BC risk depending on their PTEN germline variant. PHTS patients are predominantly at risk of BC (females), EC, and TC. This should be the main focus of surveillance. These lower, more unbiased and personalized risks provide guidance for optimized cancer risk management.

Recommendation and Acceptance of Counselling for Familial Cancer Risk in Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Cases.

Background: In clinical routine, not every patient who is offered genetic counselling and diagnostics in order to investigate a familial cancer risk predisposition opts for it. Little is known about acceptance of counselling and testing in newly diagnosed breast cancer cases in Germany. Methods: All primary breast cancer cases and patients with DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ) treated at the University Hospital of Dresden between 2016 and 2019 were included. The number of tumor board recommendations for genetic counselling on the basis of the GC-HBOC risk criteria was recorded. Acceptance was analyzed by number of cases with counselling in the GC-HBOC-Center Dresden. Results: Of 996 primary breast cancer and DCIS cases, 262 (26.3%) were eligible for genetic counselling. Recommendation for genetic counselling was accepted by 64.1% (168/262). Of these 90.5% (152/168) opted for molecular genetic analysis. The acceptance rate for counselling increased between 2016 and 2019 from 58.3 to 72.6%. Altogether, 20.4% (31/152) patients were found to carry a pathogenic variant in the breast cancer genes BRCA1 or BRCA2. Conclusion: Acceptance of recommendation is increasing as clinical consequences augment. Optimization in providing information about hereditary cancer risk and in accessibility of counselling and testing is required to further improve acceptance of recommendation.

Genotype-phenotype associations in a large PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS) patient cohort.

BACKGROUND: Pathogenic PTEN germline variants cause PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome (PHTS), a rare disease with a variable genotype and phenotype. Knowledge about these spectra and genotype-phenotype associations could help diagnostics and potentially lead to personalized care. Therefore, we assessed the PHTS genotype and phenotype spectrum in a large cohort study. METHODS: Information was collected of 510 index patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic (LP/P) PTEN variants (n = 467) or variants of uncertain significance. Genotype-phenotype associations were assessed using logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex and age. RESULTS: At time of genetic testing, the majority of children (n = 229) had macrocephaly (81%) or developmental delay (DD, 61%), and about half of the adults (n = 238) had cancer (51%), macrocephaly (61%), or cutaneous pathology (49%). Across PTEN, 268 LP/P variants were identified, with exon 5 as hotspot. Missense variants (n = 161) were mainly located in the phosphatase domain (PD, 90%) and truncating variants (n = 306) across all domains. A trend towards 2 times more often truncating variants was observed in adults (OR = 2.3, 95%CI = 1.5-3.4) and patients with cutaneous pathology (OR = 1.6, 95%CI = 1.1-2.5) or benign thyroid pathology (OR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.1-3.5), with trends up to 2-4 times more variants in PD. Whereas patients with DD (OR = 0.5, 95%CI = 0.3-0.9) or macrocephaly (OR = 0.6, 95%CI = 0.4-0.9) had about 2 times less often truncating variants compared to missense variants. In DD patients these missense variants were often located in domain C2. CONCLUSION: The PHTS phenotypic diversity may partly be explained by the PTEN variant coding effect and the combination of coding effect and domain. PHTS patients with early-onset disease often had missense variants, and those with later-onset disease often truncating variants.

Comprehensive genomic and epigenomic analysis in cancer of unknown primary guides molecularly-informed therapies despite heterogeneity.

The benefit of molecularly-informed therapies in cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is unclear. Here, we use comprehensive molecular characterization by whole genome/exome, transcriptome and methylome analysis in 70 CUP patients to reveal substantial mutational heterogeneity with TP53, MUC16, KRAS, LRP1B and CSMD3 being the most frequently mutated known cancer-related genes. The most common fusion partner is FGFR2, the most common focal homozygous deletion affects CDKN2A. 56/70 (80%) patients receive genomics-based treatment recommendations which are applied in 20/56 (36%) cases. Transcriptome and methylome data provide evidence for the underlying entity in 62/70 (89%) cases. Germline analysis reveals five (likely) pathogenic mutations in five patients. Recommended off-label therapies translate into a mean PFS ratio of 3.6 with a median PFS1 of 2.9 months (17 patients) and a median PFS2 of 7.8 months (20 patients). Our data emphasize the clinical value of molecular analysis and underline the need for innovative, mechanism-based clinical trials.

Comprehensive Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis for Guiding Therapeutic Decisions in Patients with Rare Cancers.

The clinical relevance of comprehensive molecular analysis in rare cancers is not established. We analyzed the molecular profiles and clinical outcomes of 1,310 patients (rare cancers, 75.5%) enrolled in a prospective observational study by the German Cancer Consortium that applies whole-genome/exome and RNA sequencing to inform the care of adults with incurable cancers. On the basis of 472 single and six composite biomarkers, a cross-institutional molecular tumor board provided evidence-based management recommendations, including diagnostic reevaluation, genetic counseling, and experimental treatment, in 88% of cases. Recommended therapies were administered in 362 of 1,138 patients (31.8%) and resulted in significantly improved overall response and disease control rates (23.9% and 55.3%) compared with previous therapies, translating into a progression-free survival ratio >1.3 in 35.7% of patients. These data demonstrate the benefit of molecular stratification in rare cancers and represent a resource that may promote clinical trial access and drug approvals in this underserved patient population. SIGNIFICANCE: Rare cancers are difficult to treat; in particular, molecular pathogenesis-oriented medical therapies are often lacking. This study shows that whole-genome/exome and RNA sequencing enables molecularly informed treatments that lead to clinical benefit in a substantial proportion of patients with advanced rare cancers and paves the way for future clinical trials.See related commentary by Eggermont et al., p. 2677.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2659.

Correction: Diagnostic value of partial exome sequencing in developmental disorders.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0201041.].