Spindle cell neoplasms with novel LTK fusion – Expanding the spectrum of kinase fusion-positive soft tissue tumors

Abstract

<h3>Aims</h3><p>Kinase fusion-positive soft tissue tumors represent an emerging, molecularly defined group of mesenchymal tumors with a wide morphologic spectrum and diverse activating kinases. Here, we present two cases of soft tissue tumors with novel <em>LTK</em> fusions.</p><h3>Methods and Results</h3><p>Both cases presented as acral skin nodules (big toe and middle finger) in pediatric patients (17-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy). The tumors measured 2 and 3 cm in greatest dimension. Histologically, both cases exhibited bland-looking spindle cells infiltrating adipose tissue and accompanied by collagenous stroma. One case additionally displayed perivascular hyalinization and band-like stromal collagen. Both cases exhibited focal S100 staining, and one case had patchy coexpression of CD34. Targeted RNA-seq revealed the presence of novel in-frame <em>MYH9::LTK</em> and <em>MYH10::LTK</em> fusions, resulting in upregulation of <em>LTK</em> expression. Of interest, DNA methylation-based unsupervised clustering analysis in one case showed that the tumor clustered with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP). One tumor was excised with amputation with no local recurrence or distant metastasis at 18-month follow-up. The other case was initially marginally excised with local recurrence after one year, followed by wide local excision, with no evidence of disease at 10 years of follow-up.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This is the first reported case series of soft tissue tumors harboring <em>LTK</em> fusion, expanding the molecular landscape of soft tissue tumors driven by activating kinase fusions. Furthermore, studies involving a larger number of cases and integrated genomic analyses will be warranted to fully elucidate the pathogenesis and classification of these tumors.</p>