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Cellular Oncology
Published in: Cellular Oncology 3/2013

01-06-2013 | Original Paper

Multiple splice variants of EWSR1-ETS fusion transcripts co-existing in the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors

Authors: Barbara Patócs, Krisztina Németh, Miklós Garami, Gabriella Arató, Ilona Kovalszky, Miklós Szendrői, György Fekete

Published in: Cellular Oncology | Issue 3/2013

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Abstract

Purpose

The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (EFT) is characterized by fusions of the EWSR1 gene on chromosome 22q12 with either one of the genes encoding members of the ETS family of transcription factors, in the majority of cases FLI1 or ERG. Many alternative EWSR1-ETS gene fusions have been encountered, due to variations in the locations of the EWSR1 and ETS genomic breakpoints. The resulting heterogeneity in EWSR1-ETS fusion transcripts may further be increased by the occurrence of multiple splice variants within the same tumor. Here we present a retrospective study designed to detect all of the EWSR1-FLI1 and EWSR1-ERG fusion transcripts in a series of 23 fresh frozen EFT tissues.

Methods

RT-PCR and nested fluorescent multiplex PCR were used to amplify EWSR1-FLI1 and EWSR1-ERG transcripts from EFT tissues. Fusion transcripts were identified by laser-induced fluorescent capillary electrophoresis and confirmed by sequence analysis.

Results

Nine different EWSR1-FLI1 fusion transcripts and one EWSR1-ERG fusion transcript were identified in 21 out of 23 fresh frozen EFT tissue samples. In five cases multiple fusion transcripts were found to coexist in the same tumor sample. We additionally reviewed previous reports on twelve cases with multiple EWSR1-ETS fusion transcripts.

Conclusions

Alternative splicing may frequently affect the process of EFT-associated fusion gene transcription and, as such, may significantly contribute to the pathogenic role of EFT-associated chromosome translocations. In a considerable number of cases this may result in multiple splice variants within the same tumor.
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Metadata
Title
Multiple splice variants of EWSR1-ETS fusion transcripts co-existing in the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors
Authors
Barbara Patócs
Krisztina Németh
Miklós Garami
Gabriella Arató
Ilona Kovalszky
Miklós Szendrői
György Fekete
Publication date
01-06-2013
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Published in
Cellular Oncology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 2211-3428
Electronic ISSN: 2211-3436
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13402-013-0126-8

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