Link to bioRxiv paper: http://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.11.246777v1?rss=1 Authors: Kim, J. H., Megquier, K. J., Thomas, R., Sarver, A. L., Song, J. M., Kim, Y. T., Schulte, A. J., Cheng, N., Linden, M. A., Murugan, P., Oseth, L., Foster, C. L., Elvers, I., Swofford, R., Turner-Maier, J., Karlsson, E. K., Breen, M., Lindblad-Toh, K., Modiano, J. F. Abstract: Sporadic angiosarcomas (ASs) are aggressive vascular sarcomas whose rarity and genomic complexity present significant obstacles in deciphering the pathogenic significance of individual genetic alterations. Numerous fusion genes have been identified across multiple types of cancers, but their existence and significance remain unclear in sporadic ASs. In this study, we leveraged RNA sequencing data from thirteen human ASs and 76 spontaneous canine hemangiosarcomas (HSAs) to identify fusion genes associated with spontaneous vascular malignancies. Ten novel protein-coding fusion genes, including TEX2-PECAM1 and ATP8A2-FLT1, were identified in seven of the thirteen human tumors, with two tumors showing mutations of TP53. HRAS and NRAS mutations were found in ASs without fusions or TP53 mutations. We found fifteen novel protein-coding fusion genes including MYO16-PTK2, GABRA3-FLT1, and AKT3-XPNPEP1 in eleven of the 76 canine HSAs; these fusion genes were seen exclusively in tumors of the angiogenic molecular subtype that contained recurrent mutations in TP53, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, and NRAS. In particular, fusion genes and mutations of TP53 co-occurred in tumors with higher frequency than expected by random chance, and they enriched gene signatures predicting activation of angiogenic pathways. Comparative transcriptomic analysis of human ASs and canine HSAs identified shared molecular signatures associated with activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways. Our data suggest that genomic instability induced by TP53 mutations might create a predisposition for fusion events that may contribute to tumor progression by promoting selection and/or enhancing fitness through activation of convergent angiogenic pathways in this vascular malignancy. Copy rights belong to original authors. Visit the link for more info