Myogenin, AP2β, NOS-1, and HMGA2 are surrogate markers of fusion status in rhabdomyosarcoma: a report from the soft tissue sarcoma committee of the children's oncology group

Am J Surg Pathol. 2014 May;38(5):654-9. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000000195.

Abstract

Pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is traditionally classified on the basis of the histologic appearance into alveolar (ARMS) and embryonal (ERMS) subtypes. The majority of ARMS contain a PAX3-FOXO1 or PAX7-FOXO1 gene fusion, but about 20% do not. Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study stage-matched and group-matched ARMS typically behaves more aggressively than ERMS, but recent studies have shown that it is, in fact, the fusion status that drives the outcome for RMS. Gene expression microarray data indicate that several genes discriminate between fusion-positive and fusion-negative RMS with high specificity. Using tissue microarrays containing a series of both ARMS and ERMS, we identified a panel of 4 immunohistochemical markers-myogenin, AP2β, NOS-1, and HMGA2-which can be used as surrogate markers of fusion status in RMS. These antibodies provide an alternative to molecular methods for identification of fusion-positive RMS, particularly in cases in which there is scant or poor-quality material. In addition, these antibodies may be useful in fusion-negative ARMS as an indicator that a variant gene fusion may be present.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Child
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / analysis
  • HMGA2 Protein / analysis
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods*
  • Myogenin / analysis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / analysis
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar / genetics*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma, Alveolar / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • FABP4 protein, human
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins
  • HMGA2 Protein
  • MYOG protein, human
  • Myogenin
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • PAX3-FOXO1A fusion protein, human
  • PAX7 Transcription Factor
  • Paired Box Transcription Factors
  • Pax7 protein, mouse
  • NOS1 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I