Molecular cytogenetic characterization of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma

Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumor whose pathological diagnosis can be difficult. In the literature two cases of EHE were found to harbor a balanced t(1;3)(p36.3;q25) translocation, suggesting a characteristic chromosomal rearrangement as cause for the development of EHE. In this study, 14 cases of EHE were investigated by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) directed against the translocation breakpoint 1p36.3. A subset of cases was also analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) and image cytometry. Five out of eight cases that could be successfully analyzed by FISH harbored a chromosomal break in the 1p36.3 region. The break-apart signals were present in diploid nuclei, and less frequently also in tetraploid nuclei. In the latter, the chromosomal break was present twice, suggesting that polyploidy occurred after the chromosomal alteration. DNA cytometry confirmed that tetraploid cells were present in most examined cases with one case indicating almost equal amounts of diploid and tetraploid tumor cells. CGH revealed single chromosomal imbalances of unclear significance. We could confirm that EHE may harbor a recurrent mutation involving the 1p36.3 chromosomal region thus supporting the notion that the t(1;3)(p36.3;q25) translocation is a relevant genetic finding in this tumor entity.