Cytogenetic and molecular genetic techniques as adjunctive approaches in the diagnosis bone and soft tissue tumors

Important and meaningful advances have been made in mesenchymal tumor cytog enetics during the last two decades. A number of bone and soft tissue tumor s have been shown to have recurrent, if not specific, chromosomal changes, particularly translocations. These changes not only serve as aids in the di agnosis and classification of bone and soft tissue turners, especially in t he differential diagnosis of those of confusing nature, but have also guide d molecular studies in establishing the underlying genes involved. To date, a number of turner-specific gene fusions have been identified and many hav e been shown to encode aberrant transcription factors. These key biological events in bone and soft tissue tumors are crucial not only to our understa nding of the sarcomagenetic processes leading to the various tumors, but al so ultimately in the design of specific therapies tailored to the genetic e vents in mesenchymal neoplasms.