Aberrations of 6q13 mapped to the COL12A1 locus in chondromyxoid fibroma

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the cervical spine: A case report

BACKGROUND

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is an unusual benign tumour of cartilaginous tissues that may be confused with other malignant tumours. It is rarely seen in the cervical spine.

CASE SUMMARY

A 24-year-old young woman was admitted to the hospital because of neck and shoulder pain. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray and other imaging examinations of the cervical spine and laboratory-related indicators combined with intraoperative pathology revealed that the patient had cervical CMF. We performed total resection of the vertebral body and intervertebral disc, and internal fixation was performed to simultaneously maintain the stability of the entire spine. The clinical results from extensive resection were satisfactory. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient's symptoms had not recurred.

CONCLUSION

CMF is a benign primary bone tumour that is rarely located in the vertebral bone. Accurate initial diagnosis of these tumours is important for appropriate treatment. En bloc surgical resection of the tumour is the cornerstone of treatment.

Systematic Investigation of the Efficacy of Sinitang Decoction Against Ulcerative Colitis

The aim of this study was to investigate the precise clinical use of Sinitang decoction (SNT) in ulcerative colitis (UC). Network pharmacology-based analysis of the drug components-targets-diseases-pathways was used to predict the possible clinical applications of SNT. Next, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) was used to establish a rat model of UC, and the efficacy of SNT against UC was tested, followed by a proteomic analysis of the specific signatures regulated by SNT against UC. SNT was predicted to be effective in inflammatory bowel disease, UC, and several other diseases. In the rats with UC, SNT decreased the disease activity index and colon mucosal damage index compared to the untreated UC model rats. Additionally, SNT reversed the upregulated levels of serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), interleukin (IL)-6, and nitric oxide (NO) in UC model rats. The proteomic analysis identified 78 proteins that were differentially regulated by SNT in the rats with UC, which were associated with the Gene Ontology terms sulfur compound binding, calcium ion binding, and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4 binding. Among these differentially regulated proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and collagen alpha-1(XII) chain (COL12A1) were found to be signature proteins associated with the efficacy of SNT against UC. This study represents the first precise investigation of the efficacy and mechanisms of SNT against UC, and shows that SNT is a promising candidate for personalized management of UC.

NUP214-RAC1 and RAC1-COL12A1 Fusion in Complex Variant Translocations Involving Chromosomes 6, 7 and 9 in an Acute Myeloid Leukemia Case with DEK-NUP214

DEK-NUP214 gene fusion in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with poor prognosis. It is most often a sole translocation and more rarely observed as complex chromosomal forms. We describe an AML case with complex karyotype abnormalities involving chromosome bands 6p23, 6q13, 7p22, and 9q34. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that exon 17 of NUP214 (9q34) was fused to exon 2 of RAC1 (7p22). We also detected that the 5'-end of intron 1 of RAC1 was fused with the antisense strand of intron 5 of COL12A1 (6q13). RT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression of DEK-NUP214, NUP214-RAC1, RAC1-COL12A1, NUP214, and RAC1. These results suggest that the 5'- and 3'-ends of NUP214 from the breakpoint in the same locus were fused to RAC1 and DEK, respectively, and the 5'-end of RAC1 was fused to COL12A1. The reading frame of NUP214 was not matched with RAC1; however, high expression of the RAC1 protein was detected by Western blotting. This study identifies the variant complex fusion genesNUP214-RAC1 and RAC1- COL12A1 in a case of AML.

Genome-wide association study of copy number variations (CNVs) with opioid dependence

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms that have been associated with opioid dependence (OD) altogether account for only a small proportion of the known heritability. Most of the genetic risk factors are unknown. Some of the 'missing heritability' might be explained by copy number variations (CNVs) in the human genome. We used Illumina HumanOmni1 arrays to genotype 5152 African-American and European-American OD cases and screened controls and implemented combined CNV calling methods. After quality control measures were applied, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of CNVs with OD was performed. For common CNVs, two deletions and one duplication were significantly associated with OD genome-wide (eg, P=2 × 10(-8) and OR (95% CI)=0.64 (0.54-0.74) for a chromosome 18q12.3 deletion). Several rare or unique CNVs showed suggestive or marginal significance with large effect sizes. This study is the first GWAS of OD using CNVs. Some identified CNVs harbor genes newly identified here to be of biological importance in addiction, whereas others affect genes previously known to contribute to substance dependence risk. Our findings augment our specific knowledge of the importance of genomic variation in addictive disorders, and provide an addiction CNV pool for further research. These findings require replication.

Cutaneous angiosarcoma of the buttock complicated by severe thrombocytopenia: A case report

Angiosarcoma (AS) is an aggressive, malignant endothelial cell tumor of vascular or lymphatic origin, the presentation and clinical behavior of which may vary according to its location. This is the case report of a 56-year-old woman with cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) of the buttock complicated by severe thrombocytopenia. A review of the literature revealed that only nine cases of CAS with thrombocytopenia have been previously reported. The prognosis of CAS complicated by thrombocytopenia is poor, even after treatment with combined chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT). The composite karyotype was 46,XX,t(12;20)(p13;p11.2)[3]/47,X,add(X)(q13),del(6)(q?),add(12)(p13),−21,+2mar[2]/45,XX,der(1)add(1)(p36.3)del(1)(q41),−20[1]/46,XX[13]. Only 13 cytogenetic cases of AS, including the present case, have been reported in the English literature thus far. In this case report, the clinical presentation and cytogenetic findings are described and the relevant literature on AS is reviewed.

Pseudotetraploid clone with structural chromosomal rearrangements in a chondromyxoid fibroma: a case report

Chondromyxoid fibroma is a rare benign tumor accounting for 1-2% of primary bone tumors. Most of the patients are young males in the 2nd and 3rd decades of life. Metaphyses of long bones are predominantly affected. The histology of this tumor is well established, but its genetic mechanism remains poorly characterized. To our knowledge, only 22 abnormal cytogenetic analyses have been reported, and all contained diploidy or near-diploidy karyograms as their primary event, and inv(6)(p25)(q13) and rearrangements involving regions 6p23-25, 6q12-15, and 6q23-27 constituted a recurrent observation. In this report, a pseudotetraploidy tumor clone with multiple numerical and structural aberrations involving 6p23 as well as other chromosomal loci was identified in a chondromyxoid fibroma from the metaphysis of the left fibula of an 18-year-old male, which has not been reported. The finding may relate to the atypical-looking large cells often seen in this benign tumor.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of the calcaneus: two case reports and literature review

Chondromyxoid fibroma occurs primarily in the long tubular bones of the lower extremity, with the foot representing the second most frequent location after the knee. This benign cartilaginous tumor of bone is currently the rarest reported neoplasm of cartilaginous origin. This mass can mimic other benign and malignant bone tumors owing to its variable histologic features. We report 2 cases of chondromyxoid fibroma of the calcaneus with varying presentations. Initially, advanced imaging studies pointed to a diagnosis of a unicameral bone cyst. Pathologic examination is difficult but can be used to differentiate this lesion from more serious conditions. A quick and accurate diagnosis of chondromyxoid fibroma can prevent unnecessary treatment that could be harmful to the patient.

A t(1;9)(q10;q10) translocation with additional 6q23 and 9q22 rearrangements in a case of chondromyxoid fibroma

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is a rare cartilaginous tumor of bone. It typically presents in the long tubular bones and to a lesser extent in the small bones of the hands and feet of young adults. To date, several cytogenetic abnormalities have been described in association with CMF. We studied a phalangeal CMF from a 13-year-old female by cytogenetic methods. We found a novel unbalanced translocation between the long arms of chromosomes 1 and 9, resulting in loss of 1p. In addition, rearrangements involving the 6q23 and 9q22 regions were also observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature describing this novel chromosomal translocation in CMF.

Heterogeneous and complex rearrangements of chromosome arm 6q in chondromyxoid fibroma: delineation of breakpoints and analysis of candidate target genes

Chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF) is an uncommon benign cartilaginous tumor of bone usually occurring during the second decade of life. CMF is associated with recurrent rearrangements of chromosome bands 6p23-25, 6q12-15, and 6q23-27. To delineate further the role and frequency of the involvement of three candidate regions (6q13, 6q23.3 and 6q24) in the pathogenesis of CMF, we studied a group of 43 cases using a molecular cytogenetic approach. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with probe sets bracketing the putative breakpoint regions was performed in 30 cases. The expression level of nearby candidate genes was studied by immunohistochemistry and quantitative RT-PCR in 24 and 23 cases, respectively. Whole-genome copy number screening was performed by array comparative genomic hybridization in 16 cases. Balanced and unbalanced rearrangements of 6q13 and 6q23.3 occurred in six and five cases, respectively, and a hemizygous deletion in 6q24 was found in five cases. Two known tumor suppressor genes map to the latter region: PLAGL1 and UTRN. However, neither of these two genes nor BCLAF1 and COL12A1, respectively located in 6q23.3 and 6q13, showed altered expression. Therefore, although rearrangements of chromosomal regions 6q13, 6q23.3, and 6q24 are common in CMF, the complexity of the changes precludes the use of a single fluorescence in situ hybridization probe set as an adjunct diagnostic tool. These data indicate that the genetic alterations in CMF are heterogeneous and are likely a result of a cryptic rearrangement beyond the resolution level of combined binary ratio fluorescence in situ hybridization or a point mutation.