CIC rearranged sarcomas: A single institution experience of the potential pitfalls in interpreting CIC FISH results

The aim of this study was to establish how reliable FISH CIC analysis using an IVD (in vitro diagnostic) commercial probe is. A series of 19 CIC-DUX4 sarcomas were evaluated. The samples presenting CIC-DUX4 fusion transcript detected by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Sanger sequencing and/or Next Generation Sequencing were selected for Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization (FISH) CIC analysis with CIC break-apart IVD probe and compared to molecular analysis. CIC FISH analysis showed 26% of false negatives. Our results indicate that, in the setting of CIC-DUX4 fusion positive small round cell sarcomas, CIC FISH using IVD commercial probe may lead to false-negative results. This novel study evaluates the diagnostic use of a commercial IVD CIC probe for FISH.