BRAF Rearrangements and BRAF V600E mutations are seen in a subset of pancreatic carcinomas with acinar differentiation

Context.—: Comprehensive genomic profiling has demonstrated that approximately 20% of pancreatic carcinomas with acinar differentiation harbor potentially targetable BRAF fusions that activate the MAPK pathway.
Objectives.—: To validate the above finding by BRAF break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in a large series of pure acinar cell carcinomas (ACCs), evaluate tumors for the presence of BRAF V600E mutations, and compare clinicopathologic features of tumors with BRAF rearrangements with those without.
Design.—: Thirty cases of pure ACC and 6 cases of mixed acinar-neuroendocrine carcinoma (ACC-NEC) were retrieved. A break-apart FISH probe was used to detect BRAF rearrangements. Immunohistochemistry for BRAF V600E was performed.
Results.—: BRAF rearrangements by FISH were found in 6 of 36 cases (17%), 5 of which were pure ACC and 1 was a mixed ACC-NEC. Follow-up was available in 29 of 36 (81%). The median survival was 22 months for BRAF-rearranged cases and 16 months for BRAF-intact cases; the 2-year overall survival was 50% for BRAF-rearranged cases and 35% for BRAF-intact cases. No significant clinicopathologic differences were identified in cases with BRAF rearrangement compared with those without BRAF rearrangement. BRAF V600E mutation was identified in 2 of 34 cases (6%), both of which were pure ACC and were BRAF-intact by FISH.
Conclusions.—: This study supports the finding that BRAF rearrangements are present in approximately 20% of cases and identified BRAF V600E mutations in approximately 5% of cases. These cases may benefit from targeted therapy.