We performed a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay for both chimeric SYT-SSX transcripts in a series of 35 SS (29 monophasic, 6 biphasic) to assess its usefulness in molecular diagnosis and to evaluate the incidence of molecular variants.
PCR analysis demonstrates the presence of SYT-SSX1 or SYT-SSX2 fusion transcripts in 29 of 32 of the synovial sarcomas examined, indicating that the detection of these hybrid transcripts by PCR may represent a very useful diagnostic method.
Sequence analysis revealed that one of these antigens, HOM-MEL-40, was coded for by the SSX2 gene, which has recently been described to be involved in the t(X;18) translocation of human synovial sarcomas.
There was a significant relation (P=0.003) between histologic subtype (monophasic vs. biphasic) and SSX1 or SSX2 involvement in the fusion transcript: all 12 biphasic synovial sarcomas had a SYT-SSX1 fusion transcript, and all 16 tumors that were positive for SYT-SSX2 were monophasic.
There was a significant relation (P=0.003) between histologic subtype (monophasic vs. biphasic) and SSX1 or SSX2 involvement in the fusion transcript: all 12 biphasic synovial sarcomas had a SYT-SSX1 fusion transcript, and all 16 tumors that were positive for SYT-SSX2 were monophasic.
Detection of the SYT-SSX fusion transcripts in formaldehyde-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue: a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction amplification assay useful in the diagnosis of synovial sarcoma.
Synovial sarcoma is characterized cytogenetically by an X;18 translocation [t (X;18) (p11;q11)] that results in the fusion of the SYT gene from chromosome 18 to either of two highly homologous genes at Xp11, SSX1 or SSX2.
Detection of SYT-SSX fusion transcripts in synovial sarcoma by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using archival paraffin-embedded tissues.
We conclude that the findings suggest that the type of SYT-SSX fusion transcript determines the proliferation rate and is an important predictor of clinical outcome in patients with SS.
As the number of reported variations of the SYT-SSX chimeric fusion increases in synovial sarcoma, the mechanics of the translocation machinery and the functional significance of these chimeric fusions will be better understood.
This involved blind analysis of two negative sarcoma samples and three synovial sarcomas in which corresponding frozen material had been previously shown to have the translocation involving different SSX genes.
Our molecular assay detecting the SYT-SSX fusion transcripts is useful for the final diagnosis of synovial sarcoma arising at such an unusual anatomical site.
Even if recent data has implicated that the type of fusion gene (SYT/SSX1 or SYT/SSX2) can be of prognostic importance, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the clinical behavior of synovial sarcoma are still poorly understood.
In both cases, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using ribonucleic acid extracted from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues detected SYT-SSX2 fusion gene transcripts, which are characteristic molecular findings of synovial sarcoma.