Journal Article DKFZ-2026-00838

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Multi-layered molecular profiling informs the diagnosis and targeted therapy of desmoplastic small round cell tumor.

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2026
Springer Nature [London]

Nature Communications 17(1), 3397 () [10.1038/s41467-026-71636-0]
 GO

Abstract: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is an ultra-rare sarcoma with limited treatment options. Here, we show that comprehensive molecular profiling informs diagnosis and individualized therapy in this disease. We report the results of whole-genome/exome, transcriptome, and DNA methylome analyses performed in 30 refractory DSRCT patients, complemented by (phospho)proteomic profiling in nine, within a nationwide precision oncology program. In eight patients (27%), DSRCT was diagnosed only after molecular profiling. Although DSRCTs have 'quiet' genomes, 28 patients (93%) received 107 molecular-based management recommendations, including assessment of clinical trial eligibility in 17 (57%). Most recommendations are informed by overexpression of tyrosine kinases, SSTR3/5, and CLDN6, detected in 45%, 33%, and 20% of cases, respectively. Thirteen patients (46%) received recommended therapies, yielding disease control in eight (62%), including three long-lasting responses to pazopanib and trastuzumab deruxtecan, the latter administered based on ERBB2 overexpression in the absence of aberrant ERBB2 kinase activation. These findings demonstrate that multi-omics profiling provides clinically actionable insights for DSRCT management.

Keyword(s): Humans (MeSH) ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: genetics (MeSH) ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: diagnosis (MeSH) ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: drug therapy (MeSH) ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: metabolism (MeSH) ; Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: therapy (MeSH) ; Female (MeSH) ; Male (MeSH) ; Adult (MeSH) ; Middle Aged (MeSH) ; Young Adult (MeSH) ; Adolescent (MeSH) ; Pyrimidines: therapeutic use (MeSH) ; Molecular Targeted Therapy (MeSH) ; DNA Methylation (MeSH) ; Proteomics: methods (MeSH) ; Gene Expression Profiling (MeSH) ; Sulfonamides: therapeutic use (MeSH) ; Transcriptome (MeSH) ; Trastuzumab: therapeutic use (MeSH) ; Receptors, Somatostatin: genetics (MeSH) ; Receptors, Somatostatin: metabolism (MeSH) ; Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: metabolism (MeSH) ; Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: genetics (MeSH) ; Indazoles (MeSH) ; Pyrimidines ; pazopanib ; Sulfonamides ; Trastuzumab ; Receptors, Somatostatin ; Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases ; Indazoles

Classification:

Note: #EA:B340#LA:B340#

Contributing Institute(s):
  1. Translationale Medizinische Onkologie (B340)
  2. DKTK HD zentral (HD01)
  3. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle München (MU01)
  4. Angewandte Funktionelle Genomik (B290)
  5. Personalisierte Medizinische Onkologie (A420)
  6. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Dresden (DD01)
  7. Innovations- und Service-Unit für Bioinformatik und Präzisionsmedizin (W015)
  8. E010 Radiologie (E010)
  9. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Essen/Düsseldorf (ED01)
  10. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Freiburg (FR01)
  11. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Frankfurt (FM01)
  12. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Berlin (BE01)
  13. DKTK Koordinierungsstelle Tübingen (TU01)
Research Program(s):
  1. 312 - Funktionelle und strukturelle Genomforschung (POF4-312) (POF4-312)

Appears in the scientific report 2026
Database coverage:
Medline ; DOAJ ; Article Processing Charges ; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; Essential Science Indicators ; Fees ; IF >= 15 ; JCR ; PubMed Central ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record
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Document types > Articles > Journal Article
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 Record created 2026-04-10, last modified 2026-04-10



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