Inversion-mediated gene fusions involving NAB2-STAT6 in an unusual malignant meningioma

BACKGROUND: Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumours, with ∼3% meeting current histopathologic criteria for malignancy. METHODS: In this study, we explored the transcriptome of meningiomas using RNA-Seq. RESULTS: Inversion-mediated fusions between two adjacent genes, NAB2 and STAT6, were detected in one malignant tumour, creating two novel in-frame transcripts that were validated by RT–PCR and Sanger sequencing. CONCLUSION: Gene fusions of NAB2-STAT6 were recently implicated in the pathogenesis of solitary fibrous tumours; our study suggested that similar fusions may also have a role in a malignant meningioma with unusual histopathologic features.