Progression of chromosome abnormalities after radiation therapy in a patient with Askin's tumor.
A patient previously reported to have Ewing's sarcoma showed a t(11;22) (q23;q11) and spontaneous expression of fra(11)(q23) [1]. Subsequent review of pathologic specimen indicated, however, that it was an Askin's tumor. Reciprocal translocations of chromosomes 11 and 22 are the most common cytogenetic abnormalities in Ewing's sarcoma and the related Askin's tumor. After radiation therapy of a residual metastatic brain lesion, subsequent studies of the recurrent brain tumor indicated the presence of the original translocations as well as five new reciprocal translocations and two deleted segments (9p-, 10p-). The new chromosome abnormalities were consistently found, indicating that progression of the tumor was clonal. The newly observed clonal aberrations were considered secondary in nature. A relationship between craniocerebral irradiation and development of brain tumors has been reported in several studies, but the mechanism for tumor induction has not yet been elucidated. It is important that the role of radiation therapy in the evolutionary process of chromosomal changes be studied in a large group of similar cases.
Sawyer
J R
JR
Department of Pathology, Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock 72202.
Chadduck
W M
WM
Keltzel
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000556:secondary*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy