The landscape of genetic aberrations in myxofibrosarcoma

Int J Cancer. 2022 Aug 15;151(4):565-577. doi: 10.1002/ijc.34051. Epub 2022 May 13.

Abstract

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a rare subtype of sarcoma, whose genetic basis is poorly understood. We analyzed 69 MFS cases using whole-genome (WGS), whole-exome (WES) and/or targeted-sequencing (TS). Newly sequenced genomic data were combined with additional deposited 116 MFS samples. WGS identified a high number of structural variations (SVs) per tumor most frequently affecting the TP53 and RB1 loci, 40% of tumors showed a BRCAness-associated mutation signature, and evidence of chromothripsis was found in all cases. Most frequently mutated/copy number altered genes affected known disease drivers such as TP53 (56.2%), CDKN2A/B (29.7%), RB1 (27.0%), ATRX (19.5%) and HDLBP (18.9%). Several previously unappreciated genetic aberrations including MUC17, FLG and ZNF780A were identified in more than 20% of patients. Longitudinal analysis of paired diagnosis and relapse time points revealed a 1.2-fold mutation number increase accompanied with substantial changes in clonal composition over time. Our study highlights the genetic complexity underlying sarcomagenesis of MFS.

Keywords: druggable alterations; genetics; myxofibrosarcoma; whole genome/exome/targeted-capture sequence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • DNA Copy Number Variations
  • Exome
  • Exome Sequencing
  • Fibrosarcoma* / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / genetics
  • Sarcoma* / genetics
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms* / genetics