Sequencing of canine and genetically-engineered mouse models for endotype identification of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma

Here, we report using RNA sequencing isolated from frozen tumor samples from genetically-engineered mouse models and canine samples, as well as a preserved mouse cell culture to determine endotypes, or subtypes with distinct pathobiological mechanisms, of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) and nonrhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS). With an unsupervised clustering approach of DNA and RNA sequencing from mouse models, canine samples, patient-derived xenograft models, and human samples we have found several major endotypes with a wide range of putative driver mutations. This study aims to define each of the several pathological mechanisms driving tumor maintenance in these tumors in order to identify effective targeted treatments for individual patients.