Tumor categories as described by the World Health Organization reflect, in part, a true genetic heterogeneity (e.g., translocations involving CRTC1 and CRTC3-MAML2 genes in mucoepidermoid carcinoma and MYB-NFIB fusion in adenoid cystic carcinoma).
In the present study, 95 mucoepidermoid carcinomas (paraffin-embedded materials) were analyzed for CRTC1-MAML2 and CRTC3-MAML2 fusions by RT-PCR and for the MAML2 gene split by FISH.
The recurrent translocations t(11;19) and t(11;15) resulting in CRTC1-MAML2 or CRTC3-MAML2 fusion oncogenes, respectively, are identified in a large proportion of mucoepidermoid carcinomas (MECs) of the salivary gland and have impact on prognosis.
Both gene fusions seem to result in an identical tumor phenotype and the fusion genes CRTC1-MAML2 and CRTC3-MAML2 may play a similar role in the development of mucoepidermoid carcinomas.
Both gene fusions seem to result in an identical tumor phenotype and the fusion genes CRTC1-MAML2 and CRTC3-MAML2 may play a similar role in the development of mucoepidermoid carcinomas.