Loss of Chromosome 3q Is a Prognostic Marker in Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma
RMS is typically divided into tumors in which a gene called FOXO1 is fused with another gene (fusion-positive RMS) and those in which FOXO1 is not fused to another gene (fusion-negative RMS). Generally, tumors without the fusion have a better prognosis. In the paper, “Loss of Chromosome 3q Is a Prognostic Marker in Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma,” the authors investigated tumors that have either gained or lost large sections of DNA called chromosomes in fusion-negative RMS. Their studies indicate that a loss of a portion of chromosome 3 in the tumors was associated with worse outcomes for patients, but that a gain of chromosome 8 is associated with better outcomes for patients compared to patients whose tumors have the correct number of each of those chromosomes. These results give an indication of the risk for patients whose tumors have these differences in chromosome numbers. It also indicates that researchers need to investigate the genes on these chromosomes to identify potential therapeutic targets.