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Jokinen V, Taira A, Kolterud Å, Ahlgren I, Palin K, Katainen R, Räisänen M, Kaasinen E, Ilves S, Raitila A, Kopp Kallner H, Siili E, Bützow R, Heikinheimo O, Pasanen A, Karhu A, Välimäki N, Aaltonen LA. Activation of FGFR genes by genetic and epigenetic alterations in uterine leiomyomas. BJC REPORTS 2025; 3:9. [PMID: 40016412 PMCID: PMC11868550 DOI: 10.1038/s44276-025-00127-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2024] [Revised: 01/15/2025] [Accepted: 02/08/2025] [Indexed: 03/01/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibroblast growth factor 1-4 (FGFR1-4) are well-known oncogenic drivers in many cancer types. Here, we studied the role of FGFRs in uterine leiomyoma (UL) that is a benign neoplasm arising from the myometrium and the most common tumour in women. Although ULs can be classified to molecular subtypes based on genetic drivers, potential secondary drivers are not well characterised. METHODS We performed mutation analysis of RNA-sequencing data of ULs, followed by screening of FGFR alterations in our Finnish (n = 2677) and Swedish (n = 372) UL collections, utilising Sanger-, next-generation and Nanopore sequencing and SNP array data. The role of FGFR genes in UL predisposition was examined by GWAS. RESULTS We identified FGFR activation in a subset of ULs on both genetic and epigenetic levels. In addition to single-nucleotide mutations in FGFR1/2, we detected an FGFR2-ERC1 fusion gene, FGFR1 gains and hypomethylation of regulatory regions of FGFR2/3. FGFR alterations were enriched in molecularly similar HMGA2, HMGA1 and PLAG1 UL subtypes. We also unveil a UL predisposing variant upstream of FGFR4 associated with increased expression in both normal myometrium and ULs. CONCLUSIONS Our results establish the role of FGFR signalling in the genesis of UL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vilja Jokinen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aurora Taira
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Åsa Kolterud
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Division of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Isa Ahlgren
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kimmo Palin
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riku Katainen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maritta Räisänen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eevi Kaasinen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Sini Ilves
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anniina Raitila
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Helena Kopp Kallner
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Emma Siili
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ralf Bützow
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Oskari Heikinheimo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Annukka Pasanen
- Department of Pathology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Auli Karhu
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Niko Välimäki
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lauri A Aaltonen
- Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Medicine Huddinge, Division of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.
- iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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