Identification of a disease-defining gene fusion in epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Sci Transl Med. 2011 Aug 31;3(98):98ra82. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3002409.

Abstract

Integrating transcriptomic sequencing with conventional cytogenetics, we identified WWTR1 (WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1) (3q25) and CAMTA1 (calmodulin-binding transcription activator 1) (1p36) as the two genes involved in the t(1;3)(p36;q25) chromosomal translocation that is characteristic of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE), a vascular sarcoma. This WWTR1/CAMTA1 gene fusion is under the transcriptional control of the WWTR1 promoter and encodes a putative chimeric transcription factor that joins the amino terminus of WWTR1, a protein that is highly expressed in endothelial cells, in-frame to the carboxyl terminus of CAMTA1, a protein that is normally expressed only in brain. Thus, CAMTA1 expression is activated inappropriately through a promoter-switch mechanism. The gene fusion is present in virtually all EHEs tested but is absent from all other vascular neoplasms, demonstrating it to be a disease-defining genetic alteration. A sensitive and specific break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization assay was also developed to detect the translocation and will assist in the evaluation of this diagnostically challenging neoplasm. The chimeric WWTR1/CAMTA1 transcription factor may represent a therapeutic target for EHE and offers the opportunity to shed light on the functions of two poorly characterized proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Chromosome Breakage
  • Cytogenetic Analysis
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Fusion / genetics*
  • Genome, Human / genetics
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / genetics*
  • Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Trans-Activators / genetics
  • Trans-Activators / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins

Substances

  • CAMTA1 protein, human
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Transcriptional Coactivator with PDZ-Binding Motif Proteins
  • WWTR1 protein, human