Soft-tissue sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with distinct genetic and clinical features accounting for up to 1% of cancer in adults and 15% of cancer in children. Epithelioid sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor affecting young adults that is characterized by loss of INI1 expression. ⋯ When INI1 loses its regulatory function, EZH2 activity is de-regulated, allowing EZH2 to play a driving, oncogenic role. Tazemetostat, a specific EZH2 inhibitor, has just been approved for patients with advanced epithelioid sarcoma and represents a new therapeutic option in this devastating disease.
Institut Bergonié, Early Phase Trial and Sarcoma Units, 229 cours de l'Argonne, 33076, Bordeaux, CEDEX, France. a.italiano@bordeaux.unicancer.fr.
J Hematol Oncol. 2020 Apr 7; 13 (1): 33.
AbstractSoft-tissue sarcomas represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with distinct genetic and clinical features accounting for up to 1% of cancer in adults and 15% of cancer in children. Epithelioid sarcoma is an extremely rare and aggressive tumor affecting young adults that is characterized by loss of INI1 expression. INI1 (SMARCB1, SNF5, BAF47) is a subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex that opposes the enzymatic function of EZH2. When INI1 loses its regulatory function, EZH2 activity is de-regulated, allowing EZH2 to play a driving, oncogenic role. Tazemetostat, a specific EZH2 inhibitor, has just been approved for patients with advanced epithelioid sarcoma and represents a new therapeutic option in this devastating disease.