Comparative Transcriptomic and Small RNA Profiling of Fusion-Positive and Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma as a Means to Identify Potential Therapeutic Biomarkers in Cancer Treatment
Session Number
3
Advisor(s)
Dr. Kyle MacQuarrie, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern University
Location
A149
Discipline
Medical and Health Sciences
Start Date
15-4-2026 2:15 PM
End Date
15-4-2026 3:00 PM
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue pediatric cancer, and is characterized by a high grade, malignant sarcoma that resembles skeletal muscle tissue. RMS is thought to develop in response to a disrupted myogenesis process in which proliferating progenitor cells are unable to develop into mature muscle fibers. This study investigates the gene regulation and small RNA profiles of fusion-positive and fusion-negative RMS cells, two different subtypes of RMS, aiming to identify any patterns or outliers within RNA expression. The investigation is conducted through a comparative analysis of the log2 fold change values in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), fusion negative cells, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), fusion positive cells. The main objective is to determine potential molecular targets that can be used as therapeutic biomarkers in future rhabdomyosarcoma treatments. The results of the study identified numerous small RNAs and gene clusters that are of interest for further investigation and potential RMS treatment.
Comparative Transcriptomic and Small RNA Profiling of Fusion-Positive and Fusion-Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma as a Means to Identify Potential Therapeutic Biomarkers in Cancer Treatment
A149
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue pediatric cancer, and is characterized by a high grade, malignant sarcoma that resembles skeletal muscle tissue. RMS is thought to develop in response to a disrupted myogenesis process in which proliferating progenitor cells are unable to develop into mature muscle fibers. This study investigates the gene regulation and small RNA profiles of fusion-positive and fusion-negative RMS cells, two different subtypes of RMS, aiming to identify any patterns or outliers within RNA expression. The investigation is conducted through a comparative analysis of the log2 fold change values in embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS), fusion negative cells, and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (ARMS), fusion positive cells. The main objective is to determine potential molecular targets that can be used as therapeutic biomarkers in future rhabdomyosarcoma treatments. The results of the study identified numerous small RNAs and gene clusters that are of interest for further investigation and potential RMS treatment.