Chromosomal imbalances in pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas and identification of the alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma-associated PAX3-FOXO1A fusion gene in one case.

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are soft tissue sarcomas resembling developing skeletal muscle, and pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcomas (PRMS) are a rare nonpediatric entity. Little molecular cytogenetic information exists for PRMS, and their relationship to other subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma and other sarcomas is unclear. Chromosomal imbalances were determined in seven well-characterized cases of PRMS using comparative genomic hybridization.