EWSR1-POU5F1 fusion in soft tissue myoepithelial tumors. A molecular analysis of sixty-six cases, including soft tissue, bone, and visceral lesions, showing common involvement of the EWSR1 gene Journal Article


Authors: Antonescu, C. R.; Zhang, L.; Chang, N. E.; Pawel, B. R.; Travis, W.; Katabi, N.; Edelman, M.; Rosenberg, A. E.; Nielsen, G. P.; Dal Cin, P.; Fletcher, C. D.
Article Title: EWSR1-POU5F1 fusion in soft tissue myoepithelial tumors. A molecular analysis of sixty-six cases, including soft tissue, bone, and visceral lesions, showing common involvement of the EWSR1 gene
Abstract: The diagnosis of myoepithelial (ME) tumors outside salivary glands remains challenging, especially in unusual clinical presentations, such as bone or visceral locations. A few reports have indicated EWSR1 gene rearrangement in soft tissue ME tumors, and, in one case each, the fusion partner was identified as either PBX1 or ZNF444. However, larger studies to investigate whether these genetic abnormalities are recurrent or restricted to tumors in soft tissue locations are lacking. Sixty-six ME tumors mainly from soft tissue (71%), but also from skin, bone, and visceral locations, characterized by classic morphological features and supporting immunoprofile were studied. Gene rearrangements in EWSR1, FUS, PBX1, and ZNF444 were investigated by fluorescence in situ hybridization. EWSR1 gene rearrangement was detected in 45% of the cases. A EWSR1-POU5F1 fusion was identified in a pediatric soft tissue tumor by 3'Rapid Amplification of cDNA Euds (RACE) and subsequently confirmed in four additional soft tissue tumors in children and young adults. An EWSR1-PBX1 fusion was seen in five cases, whereas EWSR1-ZNF444 and FUS gene rearrangement was noted in one pulmonary tumor each. In conclusion, EWSR1 gene rearrangement is a common event in ME tumors arising outside salivary glands, irrespective of anatomical location. EWSR1-negative tumors were more often benign, superficially located, and showed ductal differentiation, suggesting the possibility of genetically distinct groups. A subset of soft tissue ME tumors with clear cell morphology harbor an EWSR1-POU5F1 fusion, which can be used as a molecular diagnostic test in difficult cases. These findings do not support a pathogenetic relationship between soft tissue ME tumors and their salivary gland counterparts. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Keywords: adolescent; adult; child; aged; bone neoplasms; middle aged; bone tumor; young adult; dna binding protein; oncoprotein; genetics; dna-binding proteins; proto-oncogene proteins; in situ hybridization, fluorescence; gene expression; skin neoplasms; tumor markers, biological; tumor marker; rna binding protein; rna-binding proteins; skin tumor; fluorescence in situ hybridization; gene rearrangement; gene fusion; oncogene proteins, fusion; immunophenotyping; salivary gland tumor; salivary gland neoplasms; zinc finger protein; chromosome analysis; calmodulin binding protein; ewsr1 protein, human; calmodulin-binding proteins; octamer transcription factor 4; octamer transcription factor-3; soft tissue neoplasms; soft tissue tumor; cytogenetic analysis; pou5f1 protein, human; zinc fingers; pbx1 protein, human; molecular diagnosis; myoepithelioma; molecular diagnostic techniques; oncogene fusion; rna-binding protein fus
Journal Title: Genes Chromosomes and Cancer
Volume: 49
Issue: 12
ISSN: 1045-2257
Publisher: Wiley Periodicals, Inc  
Date Published: 2010-12-01
Start Page: 1114
End Page: 1124
Language: English
PUBMED: 20815032
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1002/gcc.20819
PMCID: PMC3540416
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 20 April 2011" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Cristina R Antonescu
    895 Antonescu
  2. Nora Katabi
    303 Katabi
  3. William D Travis
    742 Travis
  4. Lei Zhang
    194 Zhang
  5. Ning-En Chang
    6 Chang