Prognostically important chromosomal aberrations in soft tissue sarcomas: a report of the Chromosomes and Morphology (CHAMP) Study Group (original) (raw)

Clinical outcome of patients with previously untreated soft tissue sarcomas in relation to tumor grade, DNA ploidy and karyotype

International Journal of Cancer, 1997

The most important prognostic factor in soft tissue sarcomas (STS) is tumor grade. Since most grading methods are subject to the interpretation of the individual pathologist, there is a need for objective criteria such as DNA ploidy and karyotype, which are of prognostic value in several types of malignancy. We have analyzed the relationships among tumor grade, DNA ploidy, cytogenetic abnormalities and the clinical outcome of 44 previously untreated patients with 12 different histological types of primary STS. The tumors were graded according to the method of Coindre, which resulted in 9 grade I (20%), 18 grade II (41%) and 17 grade III (39%) STS. DNA flow cytometry and chromosomal analysis were performed using standard techniques. After a median follow-up time of 39 (range, 2-124) months, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed. Significant differences in 5-year overall survival were found between patients with grade I or II and grade III STS (p F 0.05). Seventeen STS were aneuploid and 26 were euploid. In 21 of 39 successfully cultured STS an abnormal karyotype was found. There were no significant differences in survival in relation to DNA ploidy or the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. Our results show that grading had higher prognostic value than DNA ploidy or the presence of cytogenetic abnormalities in this heterogeneous group of STS. Int.

The role of cytogenetics and molecular diagnostics in the diagnosis of soft-tissue tumors

Modern Pathology, 2014

Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare, comprising o1% of all cancer diagnoses. Yet the diversity of histological subtypes is impressive with 4100 benign and malignant soft-tissue tumor entities defined. Not infrequently, these neoplasms exhibit overlapping clinicopathologic features posing significant challenges in rendering a definitive diagnosis and optimal therapy. Advances in cytogenetic and molecular science have led to the discovery of genetic events in softtissue tumors that have not only enriched our understanding of the underlying biology of these neoplasms but have also proven to be powerful diagnostic adjuncts and/or indicators of molecular targeted therapy. In particular, many soft-tissue tumors are characterized by recurrent chromosomal rearrangements that produce specific gene fusions. For pathologists, identification of these fusions as well as other characteristic mutational alterations aids in precise subclassification. This review will address known recurrent or tumor-specific genetic events in soft-tissue tumors and discuss the molecular approaches commonly used in clinical practice to identify them. Emphasis is placed on the role of molecular pathology in the management of soft-tissue tumors. Familiarity with these genetic events provides important ancillary testing for pathologists to include in their diagnostic armamentarium.

Cytogenetic intratumor heterogeneity in soft tissue tumors

Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics, 1994

Multiple (two to seven) samples, obtained from the same surgical specimen or at different occasions, were analyzed in 54 benign and malignant soft tissue tumors, to investigate cytogenetic clonal evolution. In 28 tumors only normal karyotypes were found. Ten tumors had abnormal karyotypes, but were noninformative, most often due to a high level of karyotypic complexity or great cell-to-cell variation. Sixteen tumors were informative: four (leiomyosarcoma, liposarcoma, malignant Schwannoma, and a benign mesenchymal tumor, probably leiomyoma) had identical karyotypes in different samples, whereas the remaining 12 tumors (seven malignant fibrous histiocy~omas /MFH], two leiomyosarcomas, two liposarcomas, and one synovial sarcoma) displayed intersample heterogeneity. Also, intrasample heterogeneity was detected; more than one clone was found in 21 of 73 samples with aberrations from 26 tumors. The different clones were related in all cases except two. In seven cases, samples from different occasions were studied, and clonal evolution could be evidenced in five of them, whereas in two cases the karyotypes remained unchanged. The results indicate that the acquisition of ring chromosomes is an early event in the development of MFH and possibly also pleomorphic liposarcoma. The findings, together with previous data, also indicate that rearrangements of 19p13 are late events in the progression of pleomorphic sarcomas. The overall conclusion from this study is that cytogenetic heterogeneity is common in soft tissue tumors, and that this might influence the evaluation of cytogenetic and molecular genetic findings.

Numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma

Anticancer research, 2014

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma of late adult life. Further advances in genetic characterization are warranted. The aim of this study was to search for numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies in UPS. We investigated five sarcoma-specific chromosomal translocations, five oncogene amplifications as well as the numerical karyotype of 19 UPS samples and one UPS/MFH cell line (U2197) using FISH probes on interphase nuclei. Our results demonstrate that chromosomal translocations involving CHOP, SYT, EWS, FUS and FKHR genes are absent. Furthermore, amplification of ERBB2 (10.5%) and MDM2 (10.5%) was observed whereas the EGFR, C-MYC and N-MYC genes were not amplified. Interestingly, predominant aneuploidies were found in eight chromosomes. The data demonstrate rarity of sarcoma-specific chromosomal breaks and oncogene amplifications in UPS, yet polysomic chromosomes appear more characteristicall...

Correlation between Clinicopathological Features and Karyotype in Spindle Cell Sarcomas

The American Journal of Pathology, 1999

Soft-tissue tumors have proved to be a fruitful area for the identification of reproducible cytogenetic aberrations , especially among pediatric round-cell sarcomas and lipomatous tumors. Thus far , however, data regarding sarcomas of monomorphic spindle cell type have been limited and somewhat disappointing, with the notable exception of synovial sarcoma. As part of an ongoing international collaborative study, 130 karyotyped spindle-cell sarcomas were reviewed and classified histologically , without knowledge of the clinical and karyotypic data , with the aim of identifying objective correlations between morphology, karyotype , and clinical parameters. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities were identified in 82 cases studied (63%) , but only in the group of synovial sarcomas was there clear correlation between the cytogenetic findings , in the form of a consistent t(X;18)(p11;q11), and morphology. Among leiomyosarcomas (41 cases) and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs; 27 cases) as well as in individual examples of rarer entities , there was a general tendency for karyotypic complexity associated with frequent loss or rearrangement of chromosome arms 1p , 10p, 11q, 12q , 17p , and 22q. Rearrangements of 17q (the region of the NF1 gene) were seen in 9/27 (33%) of MPNSTs. Among nine cases of solitary fibrous tumor (in which previous cytogenetic data are very limited) no consistent aberrations were identified. We conclude that, with the exception of synovial sarcoma , most spindle-cell sarcomas share with pleomorphic sarcomas the tendency for karyotypic complexity. There was no indication (in most of these lesions) that detectable cytogenetic aberrations could either facilitate their diagnosis or help to determine prognosis.

Characterization of chromosome aberrations associated with soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas by twenty-four-color karyotyping and comparative genomic hybridization analysis

Genes, Chromosomes and Cancer, 2001

Data on the chromosome aberrations associated with leiomyosarcomas of soft tissues are limited, complex, and incomplete. The aim of this study was to characterize genetic aberrations associated with this tumor group, to identify consistent regions of involvement and to determine correlations with clinical outcome. Chromosomes were prepared from 10 primary soft-tissue leiomyosarcoma samples, and preparations from four of them, plus the cell line SK-LMS-1, were suitable for analysis using 24-color karyotyping by multifluor fluorescence in situ hybridization. This method allowed rearranged chromosomes to be characterized, which would not have been possible by banding analysis alone. The remaining six chromosome preparations were analyzed using standard Giemsa banding. The chromosome imbalances associated with all the samples were determined by comparative genomic hybridization analysis. Taken together, the results show both intra-and intertumor heterogeneity and considerable complexity. Although no highly consistent rearrangements were found, some regions of the genome frequently were involved, including 1q21, 5p14-pter, and 20q13, which likely harbor genes that play a role in the pathogenesis of soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas. There were no obvious correlations between the chromosomal changes identified and available clinical details.

DNA ploidy in soft tissue sarcoma: Comparison of flow and image cytometry with clinical follow‐up in 93 patients

Cytometry, 2002

In soft tissue sarcoma, the prognostic importance of DNA ploidy status is limited. One possible explanation may be technical; small nondiploid stemlines will be diluted in relation to the presence of normal diploid cells and may not be detected by flow cytometry (FCM). We assessed DNA ploidy status in 93 tumors with both FCM and image cytometry (ICM). ICM may permit the exclusion of nonrelevant cells. The ability of the two methods to detect nondiploid stemlines was compared, as were the prognostic consequences. The patients (54 males) had a median age of 69 years. Surgical procedures were performed on all patients. None of the patients had received preoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. FCM and ICM were performed with standard methods. The prognostic value was assessed with univariate and multivariate analysis. In 82 of the 93 tumors, a concordant ploidy status by FCM and ICM was found. In 5 FCM type 1-2 tumors (diploid), the identification of nondiploid stemlines by ICM did not influence the metastatic rates. Increasing tumor size, histotype other than liposarcoma, increasing malignancy grade, tumor necrosis, and ICM nondiploidy were univariate prognostic factors for metastasis. In a multivariate analysis, only tumor size larger than 9 cm was a prognostic factor. In about 10% of the tumors, a discrepancy between FCM and ICM ploidy status was found, but we could not find a consistent prognostic consequence of this. Neither FCM nor ICM ploidy status was an independent prognostic factor. Cytometry (Clin. Cytometry) 50:19 -24, 2002.