Abstract: The present invention provides novel compositions and methods based on the discovery of the mechanisms and gene expression programs associated with synovial sarcoma. In particular, core oncogenic programs were expressed by a distinct subpopulation of malignant cells and associated with poor clinical outcome, a cell cycle program distinguished cycling from non-cycling cells, with cycling cells having a tendency to be poorly differentiated and indicative of increased risk of metastatic disease, and a (de)differentiation program that can identify poorly differentiated cells, the absence of which was prognostic of metastasis free survival. Methods of treatment include use of HDAC and CDK4/6 inhibitors to block oncogenic program to selectively target synovial sarcoma cells. Finally, macrophages and T cells can mimic the effect of SS18-SSX inhibition by secreting TNFa and IFNg, which allows for adoptive cell therapy to provide cells with increased expression of TNFa and IFNg.

Abstract: Methods for diagnosing and treating IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), e.g., based on detecting levels of IgG4 mRNA, preferably using a branched DNA assay.