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This study discovered that dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans is driven by a fusion of the collagen gene COL1A1 to the growth factor gene PDGFB, which explains its response to imatinib and gives the tumour a diagnostic marker.
Molecular characterisation of the ring chromosomes and t(17;22) translocation of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans and giant cell fibroblastoma, identifying fusion of COL1A1 to PDGFB placing PDGFB under collagen promoter control and leading to autocrine PDGF receptor activation.
COL1A1-PDGFB fusion testing confirms the diagnosis, and the fusion's dependence on PDGF receptor beta signalling is the rationale for imatinib.