Multimodal single-cell analyses reveal distinct fusion-regulated transcriptional programs in Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma (EwS) is a fusion-driven malignancy, peaking in adolescence. Although EwS tumors are driven uniquely by EWS::FLI1 and related fusions, patient outcomes vary greatly. If and how tumor plasticity of EWS::FLI1-regulated transcriptional signatures contributes to disease progression is not known. To address this, we utilized a single-cell co-assay of RNA and chromatin accessibility (ATAC) sequencing to identify gene regulatory networks in EwS. By comprehensively characterizing regulatory elements across cell lines, we identified multiple unique modules of gene regulation. Differential usage and prevalence of these modules was evident across cell lines, associated with distinct epigenetic and transcriptomic signatures, and in specific cases, modifiable by exogenous TGF-β. When we examined primary EwS patient tumors, we observed these same regulatory modules were variably enriched both across and within tumors, highlighting the existence of intratumoral heterogeneity in gene regulatory networks. Our findings demonstrate that multiple, co-existing transcriptional programs shape the phenotypic diversity of EwS and suggest that the balance between these networks may have important implications for clinical outcomes and targeted therapy development.
Authors
- Anand G. Patel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1438-8275)
- Emma D. Wrenn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9643-457X)
- Scott N. Furlan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3007-9840)
- April Ann Apfelbaum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-4429)
- Michael A. Dyer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4027-4850)
- Elizabeth R. Lawlor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2350-1540)
- Rula Green Gladden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5779-8525)
- Jay F. Sarthy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5244-7865)
- Sami B. Kanaan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4608-0953)
- Zev N. Kronenberg (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7627-9808)
- Shruti S. Bhise (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7826-8704)
- Olivia G. Waltner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7021-0431)
- Roger Volden (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2898-5150)
- Mark A Mendoza (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6229-3318)
Institutions
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
- Seattle Children's Research Institute (US)
- Pacific Biosciences (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- eLife
- Published
- 2026-11-11
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7554/elife.109124.3
- Primary Topic
- Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
- University of Washington
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- National Institutes of Health
- National Cancer Institute
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences