Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Identifies multiple therapeutic targets in rhabdoid tumors, suggesting new treatment options.
Background Rhabdoid tumors (RT) are rare, highly aggressive pediatric malignancies characterized by loss of SWI/SNF complex components (SMARCB1/SMARCA4) and poor clinical outcomes. Relapsed or refractory RT remain almost uniformly fatal, targeted or immune-based therapies have shown limited efficacy. Methods To identify novel therapeutic vulnerabilities, we performed large-scale transcriptomic screening to prioritize clinically actionable surface antigens amenable to antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs), radiopharmaceutic herapies (RPT), or cellular immunotherapies. FAP, CXCR4, and IL13RA2 were selected for protein-level validation by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 60 rhabdoid tumors, including 50 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (ATRT) spanning all molecular subgroups (ATRT-TYR, ATRT-SHH, ATRT-MYC) and 10 extracranial rhabdoid tumors (eMRT). Spatial and single-nucleus transcriptomic analyses were integrated to define subgroup- and cell-type–specific patterns. Results FAP, CXCR4, and IL13RA2 demonstrated differential expression across RT subgroups: FAP expression was detected in 51/60 tumors and was particularly strong in ATRT-SHH and ATRT-MYC subgroups, with heterogeneous localization across stromal and tumor compartments. CXCR4 expression localized almost exclusively to the stromal compartment with a strong endothelial reactivity. Although only 11/60 tumors stained positive for IL13RA2, its expression delineated a distinct niche of rhabdoid tumor cells characterized by high expression of melanosomal-and stemness-associated markers. Conclusions We identify multiple biologically and clinically relevant surface targets in rhabdoid tumors, including widespread FAP expression and a biologically distinct IL13RA2-positive tumor population. These findings support the rational development of ADC-and RPT-based therapeutic strategies as an additional therapy component.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Johann et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 8 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: