Expanding the Spectrum of Intraosseous Rhabdomyosarcoma: Correlation Between 2 Distinct Gene Fusions and Phenotype

Am J Surg Pathol. 2019 May;43(5):695-702. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0000000000001227.

Abstract

Primary intraosseous rhabdomyosarcomas (RMSs) are extremely rare. Recently 2 studies reported 4 cases of primary intraosseous RMS with EWSR1/FUS-TFCP2 gene fusions, associated with somewhat conflicting histologic features, ranging from spindle to epithelioid. In this study we sought to further investigate the pathologic and molecular abnormalities of a larger group of intraosseous RMSs by a combined approach using targeted RNA sequencing analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). We identified 7 cases, 3 males and 4 females, all in young adults, age range 20 to 39 years (median, 27 y). Three cases involved the pelvis, 2 involved the femur and 1 each involved the maxilla and the skull. Molecular studies identified recurrent gene fusions in all 7 cases tested, including: a novel MEIS1-NCOA2 fusion in 2 cases, EWSR1-TFCP2 in 3 cases, and FUS-TFCP2 gene fusions in 1 case. One case showed a FUS gene rearrangement, without a TFCP2 gene abnormality by FISH. The MEIS1-NCOA2-positive cases were characterized by a more primitive and fascicular spindle cell appearance, while the EWSR1/FUS rearranged tumors had a hybrid spindle and epithelioid phenotype, with more abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and mild nuclear pleomorphism. Immunohistochemically, all tumors were positive for desmin and myogenin (focal). In addition, 4 tumors with TFCP2-associated gene fusions also coexpressed ALK and cytokeratin. In conclusion, our results suggest a high incidence of gene fusions in primary RMSs of bone, with 2 molecular subsets emerging, defined by either MEIS1-NCOA2 or EWSR1/FUS-TFCP2 fusions, showing distinct morphology and immunophenotype. Additional studies with larger numbers of cases and longer follow-up data are required to definitively evaluate the biological behavior of these tumors and to establish their relationship to other spindle cell RMS genetic groups.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics*
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Fusion*
  • Gene Rearrangement*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Male
  • Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein / genetics
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2 / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS / genetics
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / genetics*
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma / pathology
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EWSR1 protein, human
  • FUS protein, human
  • MEIS1 protein, human
  • Myeloid Ecotropic Viral Integration Site 1 Protein
  • NCOA2 protein, human
  • Nuclear Receptor Coactivator 2
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • RNA-Binding Protein FUS
  • TFCP2 protein, human
  • Transcription Factors