Gastroblastoma with a novel EWSR1-CTBP1 fusion presenting in adolescence

Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 2021 Sep;60(9):640-646. doi: 10.1002/gcc.22973. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Abstract

Gastroblastomas are rare tumors with a biphasic epithelioid/spindle cell morphology that typically present in early adulthood and have recurrent MALAT1-GLI1 fusions. We describe an adolescent patient with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome who presented with a large submucosal gastric tumor with biphasic morphology. Despite histologic features consistent with gastroblastoma, a MALAT1-GLI1 fusion was not found in this patient's tumor; instead, comprehensive molecular profiling identified a novel EWSR1-CTBP1 fusion and no other significant genetic alterations. The tumor also overexpressed NOTCH and FGFR by RNA profiling. The novel fusion and expression profile suggest a role for epithelial-mesenchymal transition in this tumor, with potential implications for the pathogenesis of biphasic gastric tumors such as gastroblastoma.

Keywords: CTBP1; EWSR1; Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome; epithelial-mesenchymal transition; gastroblastoma; stomach.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Age of Onset
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / genetics*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / genetics*
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EWSR1 protein, human
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Alcohol Oxidoreductases
  • C-terminal binding protein