Purpose: EWS-FLI1 fusion type, p53 mutation, and homozygous deletion of p16/p14ARF have each been shown to be prognostically significant in Ewing sarcoma (ES). We provide the first combined prognostic analysis of these three molecular parameters in ES.
Patients and methods: We studied 60 patients with ES (stage: localized in 54, metastatic in six). All cases were confirmed to contain the EWS-FLI1 (29 type 1, 12 type 2, 14 other types) or EWS-ERG fusions (five cases). Homozygous deletion of p16/p14ARF, and p53 mutations were determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization and Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) p53 GeneChip microarray hybridization, respectively.
Results: Eight cases (13.3%) contained point mutations of p53, and eight cases (13.3%) showed p16/p14ARF deletion, including one case with both alterations. Among 32 cases with data on histologic chemoresponse, all 10 with alterations in p53 or p16/p14ARF showed a poor chemoresponse (P = .03). Variables predicting poorer overall survival included p53 mutation alone (P < .001), either p53 or p16/p14ARF alteration (P < .001), and stage (P < .01). In multivariate analysis, alterations of p53 and/or p16/p14ARF as a single variable, was the most adverse prognostic factor (P < .001), followed by stage (P = .04). In a multivariate analysis with alterations of p53 and p16/p14ARF as separate variables, both were significant (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). Six cases with p16/p14ARF deletion were also studied for co-deletion of the contiguous methylthioadenosine phosphorylase gene, and this was detected in four cases.
Conclusion: Alterations in p53 or p16/p14ARF are found in a fourth of ES cases and define a subset with highly aggressive behavior and poor chemoresponse.