[Deletion of chromosome 10q--a marker for metastasis of head-neck carcinomas?].
BACKGROUND
Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was applied to squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck to define genetic alterations that are associated with the metastatic phenotype.


METHODS
CGH is a molecular cytogenetic method allowing the comprehensive analysis of a tumor genome for chromosomal imbalances. In total, 23 primary squamous cell carcinomas without evidence of metastasis formation and 20 lymph node metastases were investigated.


RESULTS
Prevalent changes observed in more than 50% of the primary tumors included deletions on chromosomes 3p, 4p/q, 5q, 6q, 9p, 11q, 13q, and 18q, and DNA overrepresentations on chromosomes 1p, 3q, 5p, 8q, 9q, 11q13, 16p, 17q, 19p, 20q, and 22q. To evaluate the differences between both groups we used a histogram representation, calculation of a difference histogram, and statistical analysis. The analysis revealed that the lymph node metastases were frequently characterized by deletions on chromosomes 10, 11, and 14. In particular, DNA loss of the chromosomal bands 5p12, 10p11.2-12, 10q21, 10q22-23, 10q24-26, 11p13-14, 11q24-25, and 14q22-24 were significantly associated with metastases formation. The statistical analysis indicated that particularly the deletions on chromosome 10q were highly significant markers for the incidence of lymph node metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that tumor phenotypes are determined by patterns of chromosomal alterations, and that 10q deletions may predict the metastatic phenotype in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
Bockmühl
U
U
HNO-Klinik und Poliklinik der Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Schmidt
S
S
Petersen
S
S
Petersen
I
I
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D010641:Phenotype; D011379:Prognosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor