Comparative genomic hybridization detects an increased number of chromosomal alterations in large cell/anaplastic medulloblastomas.
We correlate chromosomal changes in medulloblastomas with histologic subtype, reporting the analysis of 33 medulloblastoma specimens by comparative genomic hybridization, and a subset by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Of the 33 tumors, 5 were desmoplastic/nodular, 10 were histologically classic, and 18 were large cell/anaplastic. Chromosomal gains and losses were more common in anaplastic medulloblastomas than in non-anaplastic ones. We identified 4 medulloblastomas with c-myc amplification and 5 medulloblastomas with N-myc amplification; all 9 were of the large cell/anaplastic subtype. Additional regions with high level gains included 2q14-22, 3p23, 5p14-pter, 8q24, 9p22-23, 10p12-pter, 12q24, 12p11-12, 17p11-12, and Xp11. The majority of these high level gains occurred in anaplastic cases. We also found loss of chromosome 17p in 7 large cell/anaplastic cases but no nonanaplastic medulloblastomas. Finally, we detected a significantly increased overall number of chromosomal alterations in large cell/anaplastic medulloblastomas (6.8/case) compared to non-anaplastic ones (3.3/case). These findings support an association between myc oncogene amplification, 17p loss, and large cell/anaplastic histology.
Eberhart
Charles G
CG
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. ceberha@jhmi.edu
Kratz
John E
JE
Schuster
Amy
A
Goldthwaite
Pat
P
Cohen
Kenneth J
KJ
Perlman
Elizabeth J
EJ
Burger
Peter C
PC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000708:Anaplasia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000145:classification*; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization