A new case report was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14 on July 7, 2023, entitled, “Intrathoracic synovial sarcoma with BRAF V600E mutation.”

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a highly malignant mesenchymal tumor that occurs mainly in adolescents and young adults. The treatment of SS is multimodal, involving surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The overall prognosis is generally quite satisfactory in children and adolescents with localized SS at diagnosis. However, the outcome remains poor for patients who relapse, with a reported 5-year post-relapse survival of around 30%.

In this new paper, researchers Ida Russo, Sabina Barresi, Pier Luigi Di Paolo, Valentina Di Ruscio, Giada Del Baldo, Annalisa Serra, Silvia Vallese, Evelina Miele, Angela Mastronuzzi, Rita Alaggio, Andrea Ferrari, and Giuseppe Maria Milano from Italy’s Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) report the case of a 15-year-old boy with intrathoracic synovial sarcoma who relapsed after standard chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy. The molecular analysis of the tumor identified a BRAF V600E mutation at time of progression of relapsed disease under third line systemic treatment. 

This mutation is commonly seen in melanomas and papillary thyroid cancers, but less prevalent (typically <5%) across a variety of other cancer types. The patient underwent selective BRAF inhibitor Vemurafenib treatment achieving partial response (PR) with a progression free survival (PFS) ratio of 1.6 months and an overall survival of 19 months, alive in continuous PR. This case highlights the role of routine next generation sequencing (NGS) used to drive treatment choice and to investigate SS tumors for BRAF mutations.

“Our data highlight the importance of implementing molecular tests in SS patients to evaluate BRAF mutational actual incidence in these neoplasms.”

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28475

Correspondence to - Giuseppe Maria Milano - giuseppemaria.milano@opbg.net

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Keywords - synovial sarcoma, next-generation sequencing, BRAF V600E mutation, targeted therapy

About Oncotarget

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Oncotarget

Case Report: Intrathoracic Synovial Sarcoma With BRAF V600E Mutation

Case Report: Intrathoracic Synovial Sarcoma with BRAF V600E Mutation

What if a cancer treatment worked—until it suddenly didn’t? A new case report, “Acquired RUFY1-RET rearrangement as a mechanism of resistance to lorlatinib in a patient with CD74-ROS1 rearranged non-small cell lung cancer: A case report,” published in Oncotarget, reveals how a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient developed drug resistance through a rare genetic alteration, allowing the cancer to evade therapy. 

This unexpected finding highlights the importance of advanced genetic testing and personalized cancer treatments.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Targeted Therapy and Drug Resistance

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for nearly 85% of all cases. Some patients with NSCLC have genetic mutations, such as ROS1 gene fusions, that drive tumor growth. These patients often respond well to targeted therapies like lorlatinib, a ROS1 inhibitor that blocks cancer growth.

However, cancer is constantly evolving. Over time, it can develop resistance to targeted therapies, leading to treatment failure. Understanding these resistance mechanisms is crucial for precision oncology, the approach of tailoring cancer treatment based on a patient’s unique genetic profile.

Full. blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/03/12/a-rare-genetic-shift-that-helped-lung-cancer-evade-treatment/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28682

Correspondence to - Wade T. Iams - wade.t.iams@vumc.org

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE_qSkcRZho

About Oncotarget 

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A Rare Genetic Shift That Helped Lung Cancer Evade Treatment

A young woman beat leukemia; however, nine years later, she faced a different blood cancer. This rare twist, reported recently in Oncotarget, reveals an unexpected risk of bone marrow transplants and opens new questions about long-term outcomes and donor screening.

Bone Marrow Transplant
Bone marrow transplants, also known as hematopoietic stem cell transplants, are often lifesaving for patients with blood cancers like leukemia. These transplants replace a patient’s damaged bone marrow with healthy cells from a donor, giving the body a fresh start. While this treatment can be remarkably effective, it comes with complex risks. Relapse of the original cancer is the most feared outcome. But in very rare cases, a different threat emerges; a cancer formed from the donor’s cells. This condition, called donor cell–derived hematologic neoplasm (DCHN), occurs in less than 1% of cases, and it can emerge years after a transplant.

The Case Report 
Dr. Aleksandra Mroczkowska-Bękarciak and Dr. Tomasz Wróbel from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland recently published a new DCHN case report, titled “A case report of donor cell–derived hematologic neoplasms 9 years after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation,” in Volume 16 of Oncotarget.

Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2025/03/26/when-the-cure-becomes-the-cause-a-rare-case-of-cancer-from-donor-cells/

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28686

Correspondence to - Aleksandra Mroczkowska-Bękarciak - omroczkowska@interia.pl

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2zd0UqWzeE

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Keywords - cancer, hematology, donor cell-derived hematologic neoplasms, genetics

About Oncotarget 

Oncotarget (a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal) aims to maximize research impact through insightful peer-review; eliminate borders between specialties by linking different fields of oncology, cancer research and biomedical sciences; and foster application of basic and clinical science.

Oncotarget is indexed and archived by PubMed/Medline, PubMed Central, Scopus, EMBASE, META (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) (2018-2022), and Dimensions (Digital Science).

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When the Cure Becomes the Cause: A Rare Case of Cancer from Donor Cells

BUFFALO, NY – June 24, 2025 – A new precision #oncology paper was #published in Volume 16 of Oncotarget on June 17, 2025, titled “Case Report WIN-MTB-2023001 WIN International Molecular Tumor Board A 62-year-old male with metastatic colorectal cancer with 5 prior lines of treatment.”

In this report, led by Alberto Hernando-Calvo from Vall d’Hebron University Hospital and Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology; Razelle Kurzrock from WIN Consortium and Medical College of Wisconsin; Oncotarget Editor-in-Chief Wafik S. El-Deiry from WIN Consortium and Legorreta Cancer Center at Brown University; and corresponding author Shai Magidi, also from WIN Consortium, along with colleagues, describe the case of a 62-year-old man with metastatic colorectal cancer who underwent multiple lines of therapy. After analysis, the WIN International Molecular Tumor Board proposed different personalized treatment plans based on the tumor’s unique genetic mutations. This case highlights the growing role of precision oncology in guiding therapies for patients with treatment-resistant cancers.

Colorectal cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide, and managing advanced cases remains a significant challenge. This patient had already received five prior treatment regimens, including chemotherapy and targeted therapies. Although some treatments were initially beneficial, the cancer eventually developed resistance. Molecular analysis revealed key mutations in genes such as BRAF, MET, APC, TP53, and NRAS, which are often linked to aggressive tumor behavior and reduced treatment effectiveness.

With limited standard options left, the patient’s case was presented and reviewed by the WIN International Molecular Tumor Board, a global panel of cancer experts. The team analyzed the clinical history and genetic profile to design new treatment approaches. These involved off-label drug combinations tailored to the specific mutations found in the tumor. For example, one approach combined trametinib, a drug that blocks cancer cell growth signals, with amivantamab, an antibody that attacks cancer-related proteins MET and EGFR, and regorafenib, which helps cut off blood supply to tumors and may counteract effects from APC and TP53 mutations.

“Another option was trametinib at 1 mg daily, cetuximab (EGFR antibody), 250 mg/m² IV every two-weeks, and cabozantinib (MET and VEGFR inhibitor), 40 mg po daily.”

This case reflects a shift in cancer care from standardized protocols to precision approaches, where therapy is selected based on a tumor’s molecular features. Such strategies aim to delay resistance and slow disease progression more effectively. The WIN International Molecular Tumor Board also discussed practical challenges, including access to medications, combining off-label drugs, and the difficulties of enrolling patients in clinical trials after multiple prior treatments.

Although the ultimate treatment decision remained with the patient’s physician, this report shows how international collaboration and precision oncology can expand options for patients facing limited alternatives. It also emphasizes the value of repeat genetic analysis during disease progression to monitor new mutations in the tumor that may impact treatment.

While the patient ultimately died from cancer progression, this case serves as a model for how molecular analysis and expert input can be used to guide treatment even in complex and metastatic colorectal cancer. As personalized cancer strategies continue to evolve, they may offer potential pathways for patients who have exhausted standard treatment options.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28744

Correspondence to - Shai Magidi - shai.magidi@winconsortium.org

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWDtWNgpK7A

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WIN International Molecular Tumor Board Recommends Tailored Treatment for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form and then quickly released to Pubmed.

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New tracks tagged #casereport