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Genetic discovery will help clinicians identify aggressive versus benign bone tumours

The first genetic marker for the bone tumour, osteoblastoma, has been discovered by scientists at UCL, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the Francis Crick Institute.

12 June 2018

Bone osteoblastoma

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Whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing of human bone tumours revealed that a genetic change that affects the transcription factor, FOS, is a hallmark mutation of osteoblastoma.

The results, published in Nature Communications, will help clinicians correctly distinguish benign osteoblastoma tumours from aggressive osteosarcoma tumours and direct the correct treatment.

Osteoblastoma is the most common benign tumour of the bone, mainly affecting children and adults between the ages of 10 and 25. It is treated by surgical removal of the tumour, however the diagnosis of osteoblastoma can be challenging. Under the microscope, osteoblastoma tumours can look very similar to osteosarcoma, an aggressive form of bone cancer that requires extensive treatment, sometimes including amputation or significant surgery and chemotherapy.

In this new study, scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, UCL Cancer Institute and Francis Crick Institute discovered a genetic mutation that distinguishes osteoblastoma (benign) from osteosarcoma (aggressive).

The team carried out whole genome and whole transcriptome* sequencing on five osteoblastoma tumours and one osteoid osteoma tumour.

Researchers discovered a mutation that affects FOS, a transcription factor that turns on and off genes to ensure they are expressed in the right cell at the right time, as well as its relative, FOSB. When the team extended their results in a study of 55 cases they found that mutations in FOS and FOSB are ubiquitous across osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma.

To explore whether their result could be useful as diagnostic markers for osteoblastoma, scientists examined the whole genome sequences of 55 osteosarcoma cases, and found none of the samples harboured mutations in FOS or FOSB. When the team analysed over 2,500 non-osteoblastoma tumours, they again did not find similar mutations, meaning the FOS and FOSB mutations are specific to osteoblastoma.

“We have known for a while that FOS is involved in the progression of bone tumours, however we have not found mutations of FOS in human bone-forming tumours before. Using genomic sequencing we have shown that mutations in FOS and its relative FOSB are diagnostic markers of osteoblastoma.”
Dr Matthew Fittall, co-first author from the Francis Crick Institute, UCL Cancer Institute and Wellcome Sanger Institute

“Genomics is transforming our understanding of cancers. Our discovery of the genetic mutation that characterises osteoblastoma will help clinicians diagnose it with more confidence and direct the correct treatment."
Professor Adrienne Flanagan, co-lead author from the UCL Cancer Institute and Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust.

“The main clinical challenge when diagnosing osteoblastoma can be to reliably distinguish these tumours from osteosarcoma. These two forms of bone tumour require very different treatments: osteoblastoma tumours just need removing to ease symptoms, whereas osteosarcomas is treated aggressively with surgery and intensive chemotherapy. For the first time, we have discovered a specific mutation that defines osteoblastoma.”
Dr Sam Behjati, co-lead author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge

This work was supported by Wellcome, the Skeletal Cancer Action Trust UK, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust and Rosetrees Trust.

Further Information

  • Research paper: Recurrent rearrangements of FOS and FOSB define osteoblastoma. Nature Communications
  • Source: Wellcome Sanger Institute 
  • Professor Adrienne Flanagan academic profile
  • Dr Sam Behjati academic profile
  • Dr Matthew Fittal academic profile
  • Image: sarahkayb, Wikimedia Commons

*The transcriptome is all of the messenger RNA molecules expressed from the genes of an organism. By analysing the transcriptome, researchers can determine when and where each gene is turned on or off in the cells and tissues of an organism.

Highlights in Medical Sciences

New Dean of Medical Sciences appointed
Professor Emma Morris

Announcement

New Dean of Medical Sciences appointed

Internationally recognised clinician scientist, Professor Emma Morris, will take up the role of Dean of UCL's Faculty of Medical Sciences in August 2025.

28 February 2025

Lung cancer test better predicts survival in early stages of disease
Cancer Cells Dividing

Research breakthrough

Lung cancer test better predicts survival in early stages of disease

A new test developed by UCL Cancer Institute and the Francis Crick Institute can better predict lung cancer survival at diagnosis.

09 January 2025

The King and Queen meet UCL cancer specialists at UCLH
Professor Charles Swanton (left) and Professor Karl Peggs (right) meet with The King and Queen

Royal visits

The King and Queen meet UCL cancer specialists at UCLH

King Charles and Queen Camilla met UCL clinical researchers developing new cancer treatments, along with cancer patients receiving care and their families.

01 May 2024

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