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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
11:42
Induction of Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transitions in Sarcoma Cells
Published on: April 7, 2017
The (epi)genetics of human synovial sarcoma
Diederik R H de Bruijn1, Jan-Peter Nap, Ad Geurts van Kessel
1Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen Center for Molecular Life Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer
|November 23, 2006
Summary
Human synovial sarcomas are aggressive cancers. The SS18-SSX fusion protein, a hallmark of these tumors, may act as an "activator-repressor," offering new therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Human synovial sarcomas are aggressive soft tissue tumors with high recurrence and metastasis rates.
- Treatment responses to radiation and chemotherapy are variable.
- Understanding molecular mechanisms is crucial for developing new therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the molecular mechanisms of human synovial sarcomas.
- To explore the role of the SS18-SSX fusion gene in tumor development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of SS18 and SSX gene functions.
- Investigating the interaction of SS18 and SSX proteins with epigenetic machinery.
- Hypothesizing the function of SS18-SSX fusion proteins.
Main Results:
- SS18 and SSX genes encode nuclear proteins with opposing transcriptional regulatory activities.
- SS18 acts as a coactivator, SSX as a corepressor.
- SS18-SSX fusion proteins retain domains for both activities.
Conclusions:
- SS18-SSX fusion proteins are hypothesized to function as "activator-repressors."
- This model has implications for understanding synovial sarcoma development.
- Potential for novel diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic strategies.
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