 We evaluated the clinical features of the common PAX3-FKHR and variant PAX7-FKHR gene fusions observed in rhabdomyosarcoma.     ///    "The PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR gene fusions were present in tumors from 18 and 16 patients, respectively. "    ///    "In patients with metastatic disease at diagnosis, the patterns were different: PAX7-FKHR patients had metastatic disease that involved only bone (n = 2) and distant nodes (n = 2), while the PAX3-FKHR group had multiple sites involved, including bone (n = 7), marrow (n = 7), lungs (n = 3), distant nodes (n = 2), skin (n = 1), and brain (n = 1). "    ///    A trend toward improved overall survival in the PAX7-FKHR group was noted (P = .09).     ///    Event-free survival for this PAX7-FKHR group was significantly longer (P = .04).     ///    PAX7-FKHR tumors were more often localized than PAX3-FKHR tumors (P = .03).     ///    Our results suggest that the common PAX3-FKHR and the variant PAX7-FKHR fusions are associated with distinct clinical phenotypes.     ///    The group with a PAX7-FKHR fusion was younger (P = .01) and presented more often with an extremity lesion (82% v 22%. 