DNA copy number losses in human neoplasms.

This review summarizes reports of recurrent DNA sequence copy number losses in human neoplasms detected by comparative genomic hybridization. Recurrent losses that affect each of the chromosome arms in 73 tumor types are tabulated from 169 reports. The tables are available online at http://www.amjpathol.org and http://www. helsinki.fi/ approximately lglvwww/CMG.html. The genes relevant to the lost regions are discussed for each of the chromosomes. The review is supplemented also by a list of known and putative tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes (see Table 1, online). Losses are found in all chromosome arms, but they seem to be relatively rare at 1q, 2p, 3q, 5p, 6p, 7p, 7q, 8q, 12p, and 20q. Losses and their minimal common overlapping areas that were present in a great proportion of the 73 tumor entities reported in Table 2 (see online) are (in descending order of frequency): 9p23-p24 (48%), 13q21 (47%), 6q16 (44%), 6q26-q27 (44%), 8p23 (37%), 18q22-q23 (37%), 17p12-p13 (34%), 1p36.1 (34%), 11q23 (33%), 1p22 (32%), 4q32-qter (31%), 14q22-q23 (25%), 10q23 (25%), 10q25-qter (25%),15q21 (23%), 16q22 (23%), 5q21 (23%), 3p12-p14 (22%), 22q12 (22%), Xp21 (21%), Xq21 (21%), and 10p12 (20%). The frequency of losses at chromosomes 7 and 20 was less than 10% in all tumors. The chromosomal regions in which the most frequent losses are found implicate locations of essential tumor suppressor genes and DNA repair genes that may be involved in the pathogenesis of several tumor types.

Comparative genomic hybridization and conventional cytogenetic analyses in childhood acute myeloid leukemia.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis was performed on bone marrow specimens from 19 children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at diagnosis. The results of CGH were compared to those of conventional cytogenetic analysis. The most common CGH aberrations were gains of whole chromosomes 6 and 8, both of which appeared three times. Two losses were seen twice; losses of whole chromosomes 7 and X. The CGH findings were concordant with the results of conventional karyotyping. CGH did not add new information to the karyotypes. Since no high-level amplification was found among the samples and standard karyotyping was highly successful, we do not advocate routine use of CGH in the diagnostic evaluation of childhood AML.

DNA copy number changes in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) allows the study of DNA copy number changes in a single hybridization from tumor DNA without any cell culture. Three reports of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) studied by CGH have been published so far, with somewhat discrepant results. In the present study we performed CGH analysis on 36 patients with childhood ALL. The results were compared to those reported earlier on 157 cases. DESIGN AND METHODS: DNA was extracted from bone marrow specimens from 36 patients with childhood ALL. The tumor and reference DNAs were labeled with fluorescein-isothiocyanate conjugated dCTP and dUTP, and Texas red-conjugated dCTP and dUTP. The hybridizations were analyzed using the ISIS digital image analysis system. RESULTS: The most commonly gained chromosomes were X (42%), 4 (31%), 6 (31%), 10 (36%), 14 (28%) and 18 (33%), and the most common losses were at 9p22-pter (6%) and 12p13-pter (14%). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of gains of DNA sequences was very similar in the four reports, but the 9p and 12p deletions were observed only in the present study and one previous report. Our review of the results of 193 patients studied so far shows that the success rate using CGH was close to 100%, whereas cytogenetic analysis failed to reveal any information in 21 patients (11%). Furthermore, in 69 (36%) out of 193 patients CGH gave additional information to the banding analysis. CGH should, therefore, be used to supplement standard cytogenetics in the analysis of childhood ALL patients.

Comparative genomic hybridization in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

DNA copy number changes were studied by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on bone marrow samples obtained from 72 patients with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at diagnosis. The patients had been admitted to the Helsinki University Central Hospital (Finland) between 1982 and 1997. CGH showed DNA copy number changes in 45 patients (62.5%) with a mean of 4.6 aberrations per patient (range, 1 to 22). The results of CGH and chromosome banding analysis were generally concordant, but CGH facilitated specific karyotyping in 34 cases. DNA copy number gains were more frequent than losses (gains:losses, 6:1). Gains of DNA sequences affected almost exclusively whole chromosomes and were most commonly observed in chromosomes 21 (25%), 18 (22.2%), X (19.4%), 10 (19.4%) and 17 (19.4%). The most common partial gain was 1q31-q32 (8.3%). The most common gains of chromosomes 21, 18, X, 10, 17, 14, 4, 6 and 8 appeared concurrently. High-level amplifications of small chromosome regions were sporadic, detected only in two patients (2.8%). Chromosome 21 was involved in both cases. The most common losses were 9p22-pter (12.5%) and 12p13-pter (11.1%). No statistically significant association between the CGH findings and the diagnostic white blood cell count was observed.

Combined RT-PCR and metaphase-FISH posttransplant studies in pediatric patients with chronic myeloid leukemia.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the use of a combined reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and metaphase fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) approach post-allogeneic marrow transplant in the detection of relapse in pediatric patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five pediatric patients with CML were monitored post-allogeneic transplant (two of them also had received donor lymphocyte infusions) using the combined approach of RT-PCR and metaphase FISH. Both the transplants and the follow-up were carried out in a single institution setting. RESULTS: During the posttransplant evaluation, a transiently positive signal for the Philadelphia chromosome but no transcription of the bcr/abl-fusion message was detected in one patient currently in remission. A posttransplant relapse was detected in two patients who demonstrated the Philadelphia chromosome and the bcr/abl-fusion transcript; one was successfully treated with donor lymphocyte infusions. The two patients consistently negative for both the Philadelphia chromosome and the bcr/abl-fusion transcript and currently in remission. CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients with CML may transiently demonstrate cells positive for the Philadelphia chromosome but not actively transcribing the bcr/abl-fusion message in their marrow during their posttransplant evaluation but remain in remission. Recurrence is highly likely in patients demonstrating positivity for both; these patients may be considered candidates for donor lymphocyte transfusion therapy.