ribosome binding protein 1) gene, CALU (calumenin) gene, CTNNB1 (catenin beta 1) gene, MIR22HG (produces the MIR22HG long non-coding RNA) gene, SPARC (secreted protein acidic and cysteine rich [also termed osteonectin]) gene, THBS2 (thrombospondin-2) gene, COL6A2 (collagen type VI alpha 2 chain) gene, SEC31A {SEC31 homolog A, COPII coat complex component) gene, EIF5A (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A) gene, COL1A1 (collagen type I alpha 1 chain) gene, COL1A2 (collagen type I alpha 2 chain) gene, COL3A1 (collagen type III alpha 1 chain) gene, PAFAH1B1 (platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase 1b regulatory subunit 1) gene, SERPINH1 (serpin family H member 1) gene which produces heat shock protein 47, PDLIM7 (PDZ and LIM domain protein 7) gene, and MYL12A (myosin regulatory light chain 12A) gene. While very few cases have been analyzed to date, USP6-containing fusion genes have been found in the tumor cells of 7 of 15 tested cases of cranial fasciitis and six of  six tested cases of intravascular fasciitis.All of the USP6-containing fusion genes in NF and variants overproduce a chimeric protein containing a part of the USP6 genes product, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase 6a, that has uncontrolled deubiquitinating enzyme activity. This may result in the inappropriate stimulation of  multiple cell signaling pathways including the Wnt signaling pathway, one of the JAK-STAT signaling pathways (i.e. the Jak1-STAT3 pathway), the c-Jun signaling pathway, and the NF-κB signaling pathway. Each of these pathways, when inappropriately activated, has been implicated in promoting the development of various tumors and cancers.
Nodular fasciitis (NF) is a benign, soft tissue tumor composed of myofibroblasts (i.e. immature cells that contain features of myocytes and fibroblasts) that typically occurs in subcutaneous tissue (i.e. lowermost layer of the skin), fascia (i.e. band  of connective tissue just beneath the skin), and/or muscles. The literature sometimes titles rare NF variants according to their tissue locations. The most frequently used and important of these are: cranial fasciitis (NF variants that occur in the soft and hard tissues of the skull) and intravascular fasciitis (NF variants that involve arteries and/or veins). In 2020, the World Health Organization classified nodular fasciitis as in the category of benign fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors. NF is the most common of the benign fibroblastic proliferative tumors of soft tissue and exceeds in frequency any other tumor or tumor-like lesion in this group of tumors.Nodular fasciitis is a rapidly growing, usually self-limiting neoplasm that occurs primarily but not exclusively in adults. Due to its rapid growth, NF has often been misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor, usually a sarcoma. Indeed, NF was originally termed subcutaneous pseudosarcomatous fibromatosis when first described in 1955 by Konwaler et al. The correct diagnosis of a tumor as NF is pivotal to prevent its overtreatment as a more aggressive and/or malignant growth.NF tumors have long been mentioned as local reactions to traumatic injuries in at least some cases. While it still may be precipitated by such injuries, recent studies indicate that NFs are true neoplasms (i.e. abnormal proliferations of cells even after any precipitating event is removed).