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ERG gene is translocated in an Ewing's sarcoma cell line
1Department of Medicine, State University of New York at Stony Brook 11794.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Ewing sarcoma (ES) is linked to EWS gene fusions. Researchers identified a novel EWS/ERG fusion gene in an ES cell line, revealing a new mechanism for oncogenic gene formation in cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Ewing sarcoma (ES) and related tumors are characterized by a specific chromosomal translocation, t(11;22)(q24;q12).
- This translocation typically results in a fusion gene involving the EWS gene and the FLI1 gene.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic alterations in Ewing sarcoma cell lines.
- To identify novel fusion genes associated with ES and related neoplasias.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of chromosomal translocations in ES cell lines.
- Detection of fusion gene transcripts using molecular techniques.
Main Results:
- A known EWS/FLI1 fusion was identified in the Askin's tumor cell line (SK-NM-C).
- A novel EWS/ERG fusion gene transcript was detected in ES cell line #5838.
- No visible chromosomal abnormalities were observed on chromosome 21 despite the ERG gene alteration.
Conclusions:
- The study reports the first structural alteration of the ERG gene in human cancer.
- This finding confirms a mechanism for generating oncogenic fusion genes by juxtaposing the EWS gene's carboxy terminus domain (CTD) with an ETS DNA binding domain.