Pediatric Mesenchymal Tumor With MN1::TAF3 Fusion

Abstract

MN1 fusion is emerging as oncogenic in soft-tissue tumors. Here, we provided detailed clinicopathological documentation of a tumor with MN1::TAF3 fusion. The tumor developed on the face of an 8-year-old boy and did not recur or metastasize for 5 years after surgery without adjuvant therapy. Histologically, the tumor predominantly comprised sheets and nests of atypical, mildly pleomorphic epithelioid cells. Mallory body-like eosinophilic cytoplasmic inclusions, small round cells, and fascicles of spindle cells were focally observed. Mitotic activity was high, and focal necrosis was present. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 in the epithelioid cell component but otherwise showed nonspecific phenotypes. Targeted RNA sequencing identified an in-frame MN1 (exon 1)::TAF3 (exon 3) fusion transcript. We validated the transcript with reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Sanger sequencing, and MN1 break-apart fluorescence in situ hybridization. MN1::TAF3 was previously listed without details in a large-scale sequencing study involving a pediatric round cell sarcoma in the orbit, raising the possibility that these tumors might form a coherent group.