# YAP1::KMT2A‐Rearranged Sarcoma: Report of a New Case With Unusual Morphology and Immunohistochemical Features

**Authors:** Caterina Fumagalli, Ruth Orellana, Sílvia Bagué, Malena Ferré, Allan Gonzalez, Lluis Catasús, Jaume Llauger, Ana Peiró, Paul Zamora Alarcón, Katarina Majercakova, Raúl Terés, Marie Karanian‐Philippe, Franck Tirode, Cristina R. Antonescu

PMC · DOI: 10.1002/gcc.70059 · Genes, Chromosomes & Cancer · 2025-07-11

## TL;DR

A new case of YAP1::KMT2A-rearranged sarcoma with unusual features is reported, highlighting the role of RNA sequencing in tumor classification.

## Contribution

This study presents a novel case of YAP1::KMT2A-rearranged sarcoma with conflicting morphological and immunohistochemical features.

## Key findings

- The tumor displayed an unusual morphology resembling sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcoma (SEF) with features of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE).
- RNA sequencing confirmed a YAP1::KMT2A fusion and helped classify the tumor as a MUC4-negative SEF.
- RNAseq clustering showed the tumor was closely related to other YAP1::KMT2A MUC4-negative SEF sarcomas.

## Abstract

Recurrent KMT2A and YAP1 related fusions have recently been reported in various mesenchymal neoplasms of different histogenesis. First, YAP1::KMT2A fusions have been described in a subset of MUC4‐negative sclerosing epithelioid fibrosarcomas (SEF), while VIM::KMT2A fusions in a handful of cases associated with an undifferentiated spindle cell phenotype lacking stromal hyalinization. On the other hand, YAP1 gene rearrangements have been reported in a wide spectrum of sarcomas, including vascular neoplasms such as epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE). Despite these molecular advances, occasional challenges in classification may occur even if the pathognomonic fusion is identified. In this study, we report such a case of a soft tissue sarcoma displaying an unusual morphology and immunoprofile, which remained unclassified even after a YAP1::KMT2A fusion was detected. The lesion occurred in the left leg of a 65‐year‐old female and microscopically closely resembled a SEF, with epithelioid morphology organized in cords, nests, and sheets in a heavy hyalinized background. Focally, the cells showed cytoplasmic vacuoles with eosinophilic material, reminiscent of the “blisters cells” seen in EHE. Moreover, by immunohistochemistry (IHC), the tumor showed diffuse reactivity for vascular markers, including ERG, CD31, CD34, and D2‐40, as well as for TFE3, while being negative for MUC4, CAMTA1, smooth‐muscle actin, desmin, S100 and keratins. Targeted RNA sequencing revealed a YAP1::KMT2A fusion. Based on this molecular result and the conflicting morphologic and IHC findings, a definitive distinction between a MUC4‐negative SEF and an EHE could not been established. To further subclassify the lesion, subsequent clustering analysis using RNAseq signature was performed against a vast group of sarcoma types on the same array. Results showed that the tumor was in close proximity to the SEF group, admixed together with the other YAP1::KMT2A MUC4 negative SEF sarcomas. This case is highly instructive, as it shows another application of RNA sequencing in clinical practice when discordant or uncertain results between pathologic findings and fusion type may occur. Indeed, RNAseq signature could help, in this context, to better classify the tumor as a YAP1::KMT2A sarcoma instead of a vascular tumor. Larger series are needed to evaluate the pathogenesis of these tumors and the relevance of vascular markers expression.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** YAP1 (Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator) [NCBI Gene 10413], KMT2A (lysine methyltransferase 2A) [NCBI Gene 4297], MUC4 (mucin 4, cell surface associated) [NCBI Gene 4585], VIM (vimentin) [NCBI Gene 7431], ERG (ETS transcription factor ERG) [NCBI Gene 2078], PECAM1 (platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 5175], CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947], PDPN (podoplanin) [NCBI Gene 10630], TFE3 (transcription factor binding to IGHM enhancer 3) [NCBI Gene 7030], CAMTA1 (calmodulin binding transcription activator 1) [NCBI Gene 23261]
- **Diseases:** epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (MONDO:0015523), sarcoma (MONDO:0005089)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CAMTA1 (calmodulin binding transcription activator 1) [NCBI Gene 23261] {aka CANPMR, CECBA}, ERG (ETS transcription factor ERG) [NCBI Gene 2078] {aka LMPHM14, erg-3, p55}, S100A1 (S100 calcium binding protein A1) [NCBI Gene 6271] {aka S100, S100-alpha, S100A}, YAP1 (Yes1 associated transcriptional regulator) [NCBI Gene 10413] {aka COB1, YAP, YAP-1, YAP2, YAP65, YKI}, CD34 (CD34 molecule) [NCBI Gene 947], MUC4 (mucin 4, cell surface associated) [NCBI Gene 4585] {aka ASGP, HSA276359, MUC-4}, TFE3 (transcription factor binding to IGHM enhancer 3) [NCBI Gene 7030] {aka MRXSPF, RCCP2, RCCX1, TFEA, bHLHe33}, PECAM1 (platelet and endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1) [NCBI Gene 5175] {aka CD31, CD31/EndoCAM, GPIIA', PECA1, PECAM-1, endoCAM}, KMT2A (lysine methyltransferase 2A) [NCBI Gene 4297] {aka ALL-1, ALL1, CXXC7, GAS7, HRX, HTRX}, DES (desmin) [NCBI Gene 1674] {aka CDCD3, CSM1, CSM2, LGMD1D, LGMD1E, LGMD2R}
- **Diseases:** vascular neoplasms (MESH:D019043), mesenchymal neoplasms (MESH:D009369), SEF (MESH:D005354), SEF sarcomas (MESH:D012509), EHE (MESH:D018323)

## Full text

_Full body text omitted from this summary view._ Fetch the complete paper as Markdown: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12254432/full.md

## Figures

5 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12254432/full.md

## References

22 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12254432/full.md

---
Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12254432