Case Reports
. 2021 Dec 27;14(3):1841-1846.
doi: 10.1159/000521158.
eCollection Sep-Dec 2021.
Affiliations
Affiliations
- 1 Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 3 Department of Medicine, Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 4 Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 5 Department of Neurology, Neuro-Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
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Case Reports
Tyler Lanman et al.
Case Rep Oncol.
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. 2021 Dec 27;14(3):1841-1846.
doi: 10.1159/000521158.
eCollection Sep-Dec 2021.
Affiliations
- 1 Department of Neurology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 2 Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 3 Department of Medicine, Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 4 Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
- 5 Department of Neurology, Neuro-Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
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Abstract
While neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase (NTRK) fusions represent rare oncogenic drivers (<1% of solid cancers), the recent approval of NTRK inhibitors (larotrectinib and entrectinib) led to dramatic responses in patients with NTRK fusion+ tumors. Both drugs have phase I data, demonstrating efficacy in the central nervous system (CNS), including both primary brain tumors and brain metastases. We present a 29-year-old woman who was diagnosed with NTRK3-SPECC1L fusion+ undifferentiated uterine sarcoma and underwent resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Two years later, lung metastases were discovered. She was started on larotrectinib with complete response. She remained stable on larotrectinib until she presented with altered mental status and seizures. MRI demonstrated leptomeningeal enhancement, but because leptomeningeal progression from sarcoma is exceedingly rare and her symptoms improved dramatically with antiepileptics, these findings were initially attributed to seizures. After 2 unrevealing lumbar punctures and stable systemic imaging, a brain biopsy demonstrated metastatic sarcoma, still showing NTRK positivity. She underwent whole brain radiotherapy and was switched to entrectinib, but had clinical progression 1 month later and transitioned to hospice. This case demonstrates the efficacy of NTRK inhibitors in rare and aggressive cancer but highlights that these patients can develop isolated CNS progression even in the setting of CNS-penetrant drugs. CNS progression can occur if there is incomplete CNS drug penetration, discordance in molecular profiles between CNS and systemic disease, or acquired NTRK inhibitor resistance. In this case, CNS disease maintained the NTRK fusion status, but either inadequate CNS penetration or development of a resistance gene may explain the isolated CNS progression.
Keywords:
Brain metastases; Larotrectinib; Leptomeningeal disease; Neurotrophic tropomyosin receptor kinase; Uterine sarcoma.
Copyright © 2021 by The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.
Conflict of interest statement
All authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Figures

Fig. 1
MRI brain. MRI of the brain with and without contrast showing T2/FLAIR sequence…
Fig. 1
MRI brain. MRI of the brain with and without contrast showing T2/FLAIR sequence demonstrating a large focal area of T2 signal abnormality in the left occipital region (a), axial T1 BRAVO with contrast sequence demonstrating patchy areas of subcortical and leptomeningeal enhancement (b), Tmax sequence demonstrating prolonged Tmax on color maps within the posterior/superior parietal lobes bilaterally (c), right more than left, locations that correspond with areas of signal abnormality described above.

Fig. 2
Tissue pathology from brain/meningeal biopsy…
Fig. 2
Tissue pathology from brain/meningeal biopsy showing H&E stain demonstrating tissue histology ( a…
Fig. 2
Tissue pathology from brain/meningeal biopsy showing H&E stain demonstrating tissue histology (a), positive PanTRK stain indicating that the tissue expresses Trk (b), S100 cytoplasmic immunoreactivity (c), CD34 immunoreactivity (d). H&E, hematoxylin and eosin.
References
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Livi L, Paiar F, Shah N, Blake P, Villanucci A, Amunni G, et al. Uterine sarcoma: twenty-seven years of experience. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2003;57((5)):1366–73.
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