SRF fusion oncogenes encode constitutively activated chimeric transcription factors in myoid soft tissue tumors

SRF fusion genes drive the pathogenesis of muscle-related soft tissue tumors, including subsets of perivascular tumors, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor, and rhabdomyosarcoma. SRF encodes Serum Response Factor, a well-characterized transcription factor that regulates muscle development. We characterized four fusion genes: SRF::RELA, SRF::FOXO1, SRF::ICA1L, and SRF::PDGFRB. All localized to the nucleus and dimerized through the SRF MADS box. SRF::RELA, SRF::FOXO1, and SRF::ICA1L acted as constitutively active transcription factors independent of canonical cofactors, binding SRF target promoters and driving transcription via the partner transactivation domain (TAD). A cryptic TAD was uncovered in ICA1L. These fusions promoted mesenchymal cell growth and upregulated muscle-related genes in mesenchymal stem cells, recapitulating transcriptional signatures of human tumors. In contrast, SRF::PDGFRB acted through its kinase domain, was imatinib-sensitive, activated STAT1 and stimulated inflammation genes, consistent with its tumor phenotype. SRF fusions thus define a novel family of oncogenes in human myoid soft tissue tumors. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=141 SRC="FIGDIR/small/676997v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (24K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@621647org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1a496b1org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@a1643corg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1bbca8c_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG