A recurrent novel MGA-NUTM1 fusion identifies a new subtype of high-grade spindle cell sarcoma Journal Article


Authors: Diolaiti, D.; Dela Cruz, F. S.; Gundem, G.; Bouvier, N.; Boulad, M.; Zhang, Y.; Chou, A. J.; Dunkel, I. J.; Sanghvi, R.; Shah, M.; Geiger, H.; Rahman, S.; Felice, V.; Wrzeszczynski, K. O.; Darnell, R. B.; Antonescu, C. R.; French, C. A.; Papaemmanuil, E.; Kung, A. L.; Shukla, N.
Article Title: A recurrent novel MGA-NUTM1 fusion identifies a new subtype of high-grade spindle cell sarcoma
Abstract: NUTM1-rearranged tumors are defined by the presence of a gene fusion between NUTM1 and various gene partners and typically follow a clinically aggressive disease course with poor outcomes despite conventional multimodality therapy. NUTM1-rearranged tumors display histologic features of a poorly differentiated carcinoma with areas of focal squamous differentiation and typically express the BRD4-NUTM1 fusion gene defining a distinct clinicopathologic entity-NUT carcinoma (NC). NCs with mesenchymal differentiation have rarely been described in the literature. In this report, we describe the characterization of two cases of high-grade spindle cell sarcoma harboring a novel MGA-NUTM1 fusion. Whole-genome sequencing identified the presence of complex rearrangements resulting in a MGA-NUTM1 fusion gene in the absence of other significant somatic mutations. Genetic rearrangement was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, and expression of the fusion gene product was confirmed by transcriptomic analysis. The fusion protein was predicted to retain nearly the entire protein sequence of both MGA (exons 1-22) and NUTM1 (exons 3-8). Histopathologically, both cases were high-grade spindle cell sarcomas without specific differentiation markers. In contrast to typical cases of NC, these cases were successfully treated with aggressive local control measures (surgery and radiation) and both patients remain alive without disease. These cases describe a new subtype of NUTM1-rearranged tumors warranting expansion of diagnostic testing to evaluate for the presence of MGA-NUTM1 or alternative NUTM1 gene fusions in the diagnostic workup of high-grade spindle cell sarcomas or small round blue cell tumors of ambiguous lineage. © 2018 Diolaiti et al.; Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.
Keywords: synovial sarcoma; spindle cell carcinoma; nut carcinoma; mga-nut1; nutm1-rearranged tumor
Journal Title: Cold Spring Harbor Molecular Case Studies
Volume: 4
Issue: 6
ISSN: 2373-2873
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press  
Date Published: 2018-12-01
Start Page: a003194
Language: English
DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a003194
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 30552129
PMCID: PMC6318763
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 2 January 2019 -- Article -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Ira J Dunkel
    371 Dunkel
  2. Cristina R Antonescu
    895 Antonescu
  3. Alexander Ja-Ho Chou
    58 Chou
  4. Nancy Bouvier
    70 Bouvier
  5. Neerav Shukla
    159 Shukla
  6. Andrew L Kung
    96 Kung
  7. Mathieu Nadim Boulad
    2 Boulad
  8. Yanming Zhang
    199 Zhang
  9. Gunes Gundem
    56 Gundem