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Spindle cell lipomas (SCL) are circumscribed, usually s.c. tumors that typically occur on the posterior neck, shoulder, and back of middle aged men. Cytogenetically, almost all SCL are characterized by deletions of chromosome arm 13q, often in combination with loss of 16q. Deletions of 13q are seen also in approximately 15% of conventional lipomas. Through single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analyses, we identified two minimal deleted regions (MDR) in 13q14 in SCL. In MDR1, four genes were located, including the tumor suppressor gene RB1. MDR1 in SCL overlapped with the MDR detected in conventional lipomas with 13q14 deletion. In MDR2 in SCL there were 34 genes and the two microRNA (miRNA) genes miR-15a and miR-16-1. Global gene expression analysis was used to study the impact of the deletions on genes mapping to the two SCL-associated MDR. Five genes (C13orf1, DHRS12, ATP7B, ALG11, and VPS36) in SCL and one gene (C13orf1) in conventional lipomas with 13q-deletions were found to be significantly underexpressed compared with control tissues. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that miR-16-1 was expressed at lower levels in SCL than in the control samples. No mutations were found at sequencing of RB1, miR-15a, and miR-16-1. Our findings further delineate the target region for the 13q deletion in SCL and conventional lipomas and show that the deletions are associated with down-regulated expression of several genes, notably C13orf1, which was the only gene to be significantly down-regulated in both tumor types., (Copyright © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Hibernomas are benign tumors with morphological features resembling brown fat. They consistently display cytogenetic rearrangements, typically translocations, involving chromosome band 11q13. Here we demonstrate that these aberrations are associated with concomitant deletions of AIP and MEN1, tumor suppressor genes that are located 3 Mb apart and that underlie the hereditary syndromes pituitary adenoma predisposition and multiple endocrine neoplasia type I. MEN1 and AIP displayed a low expression in hibernomas whereas the expression of genes up-regulated in brown fat--PPARA, PPARG, PPARGC1A, and UCP1--was high. Thus, loss of MEN1 and AIP is likely to be pathogenetically essential for hibernoma development. Simultaneous loss of two tumor suppressor genes has not previously been shown to result from a neoplasia-associated translocation. Furthermore, in contrast to the prevailing assumption that benign tumors harbor relatively few genetic aberrations, the present analyses demonstrate that a considerable number of chromosome breaks are involved in the pathogenesis of hibernoma.

Background: The HMGA2 gene encodes a protein that alters chromatin structure. Deregulation, typically through chromosomal rearrangements, of HMGA2 has an important role in the development of several mesenchymal neoplasms. These rearrangements result in the expression of a truncated protein lacking the acidic C-terminus, a fusion protein consisting of the AT-hook domains encoded by exons 1-3 and parts from another gene, or a full-length protein; loss of binding sites for regulatory microRNA molecules from the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of HMGA2 has been suggested to be a common denominator., Methods: Seventy adipocytic tumors, representing different morphologic and cytogenetic subgroups, were analyzed by qRT-PCR to study the expression status of HMGA2; 18 of these tumors were further examined by PCR to search for mutations or deletions in the 3'UTR., Results: Type (full-length or truncated) and level of expression varied with morphology and karyotype, with the highest levels in atypical lipomatous tumors and lipomas with rearrangements of 12q13-15 and the lowest in lipomas with 6p- or 13q-rearrangements, hibernomas, spindle cell lipomas and myxoid liposarcomas. All 18 examined tumors showed reduced or absent expression of the entire, or parts of, the 3'UTR, which was not due to mutations at the DNA level., Conclusion: In adipocytic tumors with deregulated HMGA2 expression, the 3'UTR is consistently lost, either due to physical disruption of HMGA2 or a shift to production of shorter 3'UTR.

Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS) is a low-grade malignant neoplasm for which limited genetic information, including a t(1;10)(p22;q24) and amplification of chromosome 3 material, is available. To further characterize these aberrations, we have investigated eight soft tissue sarcomas diagnosed as MIFS, haemosiderotic fibrolipomatous tumour (HFT), myxoid spindle cell/pleomorphic sarcoma with MIFS features, and inflammatory malignant fibrous histiocytoma/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma with prominent inflammation (IMFH) harbouring a t(1;10) or variants thereof and/or ring chromosomes with possible involvement of chromosome 3. Using chromosome banding, fluorescence in situ hybridization, array-based comparative genomic hybridization, global gene expression, and real-time quantitative PCR analyses, we identified the breakpoint regions on chromosomes 1 and 10, demonstrated and delineated the commonly amplified region on chromosome 3, and assessed the consequences of these alterations for gene expression. The breakpoints in the t(1;10) mapped to TGFBR3 in 1p22 and in or near MGEA5 in 10q24, resulting in transcriptional up-regulation of NPM3 and particularly FGF8, two consecutive genes located close to MGEA5. The ring chromosomes contained a commonly amplified 1.44 Mb region in 3p11-12, which was associated with increased expression of VGLL3 and CHMP2B. The identified genetic aberrations were not confined to MIFS; an identical t(1;10) was also found in a case of HFT and the amplicon in 3p was seen in an IMFH.

Deep-seated lipomas are often atypical histologically and are considered by some to have a high risk of recurrence after excision. We reviewed 215 deep-seated lipomas of the extremities and trunk wall with reference to histology, cytogenetics, clinical features and local recurrence. We classified tumours with atypical features and/or ring chromosomes as atypical lipomas. These were more common in men, larger than ordinary lipomas and more often located in the upper leg. The annual incidence was estimated as ten per million inhabitants and the ratio of atypical to ordinary lipomas was 1:3. In total, six tumours (3%), recurred locally after a median of eight years (1 to 16); of these, four were classified as atypical. The low recurrence rate of deep-seated lipomas of the extremity or trunk wall, irrespective of histological subtype, implies that if surgery is indicated, the tumour may be shelled out, that atypical lipomas in these locations do not deserve the designation well-differentiated liposarcoma, and that routine review after surgery is not required.

Lipoblastoma is a rare benign tumor that arises from embryonic adipose tissue and usually occurs in young children. Here, we present a review of available cytogenetic data and the karyotypes of 10 new cases of lipoblastoma, of which 7 could be studied further by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with regard to the involvement of the PLAG1 gene. All seven tumors with clonal aberrations harbored breakpoints in 8q11 approximately q13, in agreement with literature data. Including previously published cases, 33/40 (82%) lipoblastomas had rearrangement of the 8q11 approximately q13 region. These rearrangements target the PLAG1 gene, which becomes upregulated through promoter swapping. FISH revealed that five of seven cases in our series had a rearrangement of the PLAG1 gene. Occasionally, there can be difficulties in distinguishing a lipoblastoma from a conventional lipoma or a myxoid liposarcoma. As 8q11 approximately q13 rearrangements have been reported in only 3% of conventional lipomas and never in myxoid liposarcoma, cytogenetic analysis or FISH for the PLAG1 gene can provide useful differential diagnostic information.

Conventional lipomas harbor karyotypic changes that could be subdivided into four, usually mutually exclusive, categories: rearrangement, in particular through translocations, of chromosome bands 12q13-15, resulting in deregulation of the HMGA2 gene, loss of material from or rearrangement of chromosome 13, supernumerary ring or giant marker chromosomes, and aberrations of chromosome band 6p21. In the present study, 272 conventional lipomas, two-thirds of them deep-seated, with acquired clonal chromosome changes were assessed with regard to karyotypic and clinical features. A nonrandom distribution of breakpoints and imbalances could be confirmed, with 83% of the cases harboring one or more of the previously known cytogenetic hallmarks. Correlation with clinical features revealed that lipomas with rings/giant markers were larger, occurred in older patients, were more often deep-seated, and seemed to have an increased tendency to recur locally, compared with tumors with other chromosome aberrations. The possible involvement of the HMGA2 gene in cases that did not show any of the characteristic cytogenetic changes was further evaluated by locus-specific metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and RT-PCR, revealing infrequent cryptic disruption of the gene but abundant expression of full length or truncated transcripts. By FISH, we could also show that breakpoints in bands 10q22-23 do not affect the MYST4 gene, whereas breakpoints in 6p21 or 8q11-12 occasionally target the HMGA1 or PLAG1 genes, respectively, also in conventional lipomas.

Atypical lipomatous tumor (ALT) is an intermediate malignant mesenchymal tumor that is characterized by supernumerary ring chromosomes and/or giant rod-shaped marker chromosomes (RGMC). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and molecular genetic analyses have disclosed that the RGMCs always contain amplified sequences from the long arm of chromosome 12. Typically, RGMCs are the sole clonal changes and so far no deletions or other morphologic aberrations of the two normal-appearing chromosomes 12 that invariably are present have been detected. The mechanisms behind the formation of the RGMCs are unknown, but it could be hypothesized that RGMC formation is preceded by trisomy 12 or, alternatively, that ring formation of one chromosome 12 is followed by duplication of the remaining homolog. The latter scenario would always result in isodisomy for the two normal-appearing chromosomes 12, whereas the former would yield isodisomy in one-third of the cases. In order to investigate these possible mechanisms behind ring formation, we studied polymorphic loci on chromosome 12 in 14 cases of ALT showing one or more supernumerary ring chromosomes and few or no other clonal aberrations at cytogenetic analysis. The molecular genetic analyses showed that the tumor cells always retained both parental copies of chromosome 12, thus refuting the trisomy 12 and duplication hypotheses., (Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Deletions and structural rearrangements of the long arm of chromosome 13 are frequently observed in benign and low-malignant lipomatous tumors, but nothing is known about their molecular genetic consequences. We assessed the karyotypes of 40 new and 22 previously published cases (35 ordinary lipomas, 15 spindle cell/pleomorphic lipomas, 2 myxolipomas, 1 angiomyxolipoma and 9 atypical lipomatous tumors) with chromosome 13-abnormalities, and found bands 13q12-22 to be frequently affected. Twenty-seven cases with structural abnormalities within this region were selected for breakpoint and deletion mapping by metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using a set of 20 probes. Deletions were found in 23 of 27 cases. The remaining 4 cases had seemingly balanced rearrangements. The breakpoints were scattered but clustered to band 13q14, and in all cases with unbalanced abnormalities, a limited region within band 13q14 was partially or completely deleted. A deletion within band 13q14 was found together with a breakpoint on the other homologue in 5 cases, 4 of which could be tested further with regard to the status of the retinoblastoma (RB1)-gene. In all 4 cases, only 1 copy of the gene was deleted. In addition to the breaks and deletions in the vicinity of the RB1-locus, several other regions of 13q were recurrently affected, e.g., in the vicinity of the hereditary breast cancer (BRCA2; 13q12)- and lipoma HMGIC fusion partner (LHFP; 13q13)- genes. Our findings strongly indicate that deletion of a limited region (approximately 2.5 Mbp) within 13q14, distal to the RB1-locus, is of importance in the development of a subset of lipomatous tumors., (Copyright 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Spindle cell lipoma (SCL) is a relatively uncommon, benign tumor that usually presents in the subcutaneous fat of adult men. Although some studies have addressed the histologic findings of SCL, only a few descriptions of aspiration cytology findings have been published. The cytologic features are poorly defined, and aspirates from SCL may cause diagnostic problems, because SCL shares some features with other fatty/spindle cell or myxoid lesions, benign as well as malignant., Methods: Twelve patients underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology as the primary diagnostic modality before surgery. FNA findings were evaluated and correlated with histologic features. In addition, radiologic, electron microscopic, and cytogenetic findings were analyzed. The objective of this study was to determine cytologic criteria of SCL by reviewing cytologic specimens in 12 patients with SCL who underwent FNA cytology., Results: All of the tumors arose in adults, and 10 tumors developed in the subcutaneous tissue of the neck, back, or shoulder girdle. Two patients presented with tumors in atypical locations; one in the tongue and one in the cheek. Cytologically, all 12 tumors were characterized by a mixture of mature adipocytes, uniform spindle cells, and collagen bundles and/or fibers in varying proportions. The presence of a myxoid matrix and of mast cells was less specific and occurred in six aspirates., Conclusions: SCL has a characteristic cytologic appearance that, together with clinical data, helps to exclude low-grade liposarcoma as well as other spindle cell and myxoid lesions., (Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2001 American Cancer Society.)

Chondroid lipoma is a rare, benign tumor that may mimic soft-tissue sarcoma clinically. Its histopathologic features may resemble hibernoma, myxoid liposarcoma, myxoid chondrosarcoma, and other lipomatous or chondroid neoplasms. In this study, a chondroid lipoma was analyzed by fine-needle aspiration cytology, histopathology, electron microscopy, chromosome banding, and metaphase fluorescence in situ hybridization. The results demonstrate that chondroid lipoma exhibits a characteristic pattern by fine-needle aspiration cytology, including a mixture of benign adipose tissue with lipoblastlike cells, and chondroblastlike cells with a fibrochondroid matrix. Cytogenetically, a three-way rearrangement between chromosomes 1, 2, and 5 was found, together with an 11;16 translocation with a breakpoint in 11q13, approximately 1 Mb proximal to the MEN1 region shown to be rearranged frequently in hibernoma. The presence of a karyotype of low complexity, but without any of the genetic aberrations characteristic for other types of soft-tissue tumors, indicate that chondroid lipoma develops along a unique pathogenetic pathway.