Ewing sarcoma family of tumors: a model for the new era of integrated laboratory diagnostics

摘要

The Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFT) represents one of the best models illustrating thenmultifaceted approach to the diagnosis of cancer that has evolved over the past decade. ESFTnencompasses tumors that arise in bone or soft tissues and may have disparate histologicnfeatures. As a result, it was not until the discovery that these tumors share a commonnunderlying molecular pathogenesis (chromosomal translocations involving the EWS gene andnone of several members of the ETS family of transcription factors) that significant advances innthe diagnosis and therapy of ESFT became possible. As a result, ESFT has come to embody thenamalgamation of classical diagnostic tools, such as histology and routine microscopy, withnnewer techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and molecular techniques; the latter includenPCR-based methods and fluorescence in situ hybridization. This review will address thenfeatures of ESFT and how it has emerged as a model for the new era of integrated diagnostics.