Molecular strategies for detecting chromosomal translocations in soft tissue tumors (review).
Approximately one third of soft tissue tumors are characterized by chromosomal aberrations, in particular, translocations and amplifications, which appear to be highly specific. The identification of fusion transcripts not only supports the diagnosis, but provides the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies aimed at blocking the aberrant activity of chimeric proteins. Molecular biology, and in particular, cytogenetic and qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction technologies, allow with high efficiency and specificity, the determination of specific fusion transcripts resulting from chromosomal translocations, as well as the analysis of gene amplifications. In this review, various molecular techniques that allow the identification of translocations and consequent fusion transcripts generated are discussed in the broad spectrum of soft tissue tumors.
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Margherita
M
Cerrone
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Monica
M
Cantile
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Francesca
F
Collina
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Laura
L
Marra
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Giuseppina
G
Liguori
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Renato
R
Franco
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Annarosaria
A
De Chiara
Pathology Unit, INT Pascale Foundation, I-80131 Naples, Italy.
Gerardo
G
Botti
D006801:Humans; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*