title: Comparative genomic hybridization in pineal germ cell tumors.
abstract: Fifteen primary pineal germ cell tumors (8 germinomas, 4 mixed teratomas-germinomas, 2 immature teratomas, and 1 yolk sac tumor) and 2 recurrences of the yolk sac tumor were studied by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). An average of 1.8 chromosomal changes per germinoma (0.5 gains vs 1.3 losses), 5.5 per mixed teratoma-germinoma (3.0 gains vs 2.5 losses), 3.5 per immature teratoma (2.0 gains vs 1.5 losses), and 2.0 in the yolk sac tumor (2 gains vs 0 losses) were found; the first recurrence showed 7 (4 gains vs 3 losses), the second 13 imbalances (8 gains vs 5 losses). The most frequent imbalances were gains on 12p (40%), 8q (27%), and 1q (20%) as well as losses on 13q (47%), 18q (33%), 9q and 11q (20% each). Among germinomas, the most common chromosomal changes were -13q and -18q (38% each), in mixed teratomas-germinomas +8q (100%), +12p (75%), -13q (75%) and -9q (50%). Seven high-level gains were identified: 5 in mixed teratomas-germinomas (+8q: 3 cases, + 12p: 2 cases), 1 each in a germinoma (+2p) and an immature teratoma (+12p). Minimal common regions of over- and underrepresentation were found on +8q11.22-21.1, +12p11.1-12.1, -9q32-qter, -11q23.2-qter, -13q32-qter and -18q22-qter. Our findings suggest, that imbalances in cerebral germ cell tumors affect the same chromosomes as among their extracerebral counterparts, albeit in a considerably lower frequency among cerebral germinomas where +12p does not seem to play a major role.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neuropathology, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Munster, Germany.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Rickert
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dockhorn-Dworniczak
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Paulus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002877:Chromosomes, Human; D005260:Female; D018237:Germinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000473:pathology*; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology