Hiding in plain sight: NUT carcinoma is an unrecognized subtype of squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs and head and neck
Hidehito Horinouchi, Assistant Chief of the National Cancer Center Hospital, shared an article by Jia Luo, et al. on X
“Hiding in plain sight: NUT carcinoma is an unrecognized subtype of squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs and head and neck.
A reclassification of NUT carcinoma as an SCC.”
Authors: Jia Luo, et al.
Summary
The article “Hiding in plain sight: NUT carcinoma is an unrecognized subtype of squamous cell carcinoma of the lungs and head and neck,” published in Nature, proposes reclassifying NUT carcinoma as a subtype of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). NUT carcinoma, a highly aggressive malignancy driven by NUTM1 fusions, has historically been classified as a distinct entity3. The authors argue that it should instead be recognized as a form of SCC arising in the lungs, head, and neck due to transcriptional, histopathological, cell-of-origin, and molecular similarities.
Here are the main points of the article:
- Classification Challenge NUT carcinoma is currently classified as an orphan disease, separate from SCC, which leads to a lack of awareness among oncologists and surgeons.
- Incidence and Misdiagnosis NUT carcinoma has an estimated incidence of 1,400 cases per year in the United States, yet it is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to its orphan classification. Early diagnosis is crucial because the median survival is only about 6.5 months.
- Rationale for Reclassification Evidence suggests that NUT carcinoma is a type of SCC based on various characteristics. Reclassification could improve recognition and accelerate the development of effective therapies.
- Advancements in Treatment Considerable advancements have been made in treating non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) through targeted therapies and immunotherapy. Reclassifying NUT carcinoma as a squamous NSCLC or an HNSCC could facilitate the use of targeted agents for treatment
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