DNA Methylation Profiling of Pediatric Ectomesenchymoma Supports Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma‐Like Epigenetic Identity
Ectomesenchymoma is a rare, biphenotypic pediatric tumor combining rhabdomyoblastic and neuroectodermal differentiation. We characterize two novel cases through integrated genomics and the first report of genome-wide DNA methylation profiling. Both tumors harbored RAS-pathway mutations (HRAS p.Gly13Arg; NRAS p.Gln61His). Methylation analysis, including microdissected components, consistently aligned ectomesenchymoma with the embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma superfamily, revealing a shared myogenic epigenetic program despite neural differentiation. Shared copy-number profiles across distinct histological regions supported a monoclonal origin. Overall, our data support a close biological relationship between ectomesenchymoma and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma and indicate that RAS-pathway testing and methylation profiling can significantly refine diagnostic precision.
Authors
- Annalisa Tondo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2784-5487)
- Alessandro Semeraro (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9946-6331)
- Enrico Ciardini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2351-1298)
- Laura Giunti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8081-3039)
- Angela Tamburini (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1496-4201)
- Caporalini Chiara
- Gianluca Mattei
- Anna Maria Buccoliero
Institutions
- Meyer Children's Hospital (IT)
- Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pediatric Blood & Cancer
- Published
- 2026-07-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/1545-5017.70592
- Primary Topic
- Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00