Correlation of URGCP Gene Expression in Neurotrophic Tyrosin Kinase 1,2,3 and MAPK Signal Transduction Pathways as a New Approach in Sarcomas

Abstract Sarcoma is a heterogeneous malignant cancer of mesenchymal origin, and approximately 80% is soft tissue sarcoma (STS), which accounts for 1% of all malignant cancers. NTRKs, one of the gene fusions, are important factors involved in the development and differentiation of nerve cells. The MAPK signalling pathway can lead to processes such as migration, invasion and metastasis of tumour cells. URGCP is an oncogene involved in tumour development and formation in many types of cancer. Although it promotes cell proliferation through signalling pathways such as MAPK, its effect on STS and its molecular mechanism are unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression and correlations of NTRK1, 2 and 3 gene fusions, genes in the MAPK signalling pathway and URGCP oncogene in STS subtypes. First, RNA was isolated from FFPE tissues from 80 STS patients and then the expression levels of NTRK1,2,3 and MEK1,2 and ERK1 genes from the MAPK signalling pathway and URGCP oncogene were analysed by qPCR. The correlations of these genes with each other and with STS were analysed and concluded. The study revealed for the first time the association of URGCP with STS and the link between NTRK gene fusions and the MAPK signalling pathway.