Chromosome alterations reflect clonal evolution in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
BACKGROUND
The mechanism of multistage carcinogenesis initiated by environmental carcinogens produces clonal evolution of initiated cells to the stage of metastasis. However, the simultaneous co-existence of various cell clones is not excluded. The analysis of chromosome alterations appears to be the best method to assess the clonal composition of a tumor.


METHODS
Laryngeal tumor specimens and their corresponding metastases to the adjacent lymph nodes (20 pairs) were analysed by comparative genome hybridization (CGH).


RESULTS
The profile of gains and losses of DNA copy number was found to be fairly similar in the primary tumor location and in its metastasis. In this study the most frequent losses were found on 3p, 5q, 9p, 13p, and 13q, while gains occurred in 1q, 3q, 5p and 11q. The gains and losses were found more frequently in metastasis than in primary tumor, except for the loss of 3p and the gain of 5p. The biological function of the latter chromosome alterations seems to be limited to tumor growth, rather than metastasis formation.


CONCLUSIONS
A comparison of the profiles of chromosome alterations in primary tumor locations and metastases indicate that the progression of laryngeal cancer is connected with the clonal evolution of tumor cells.
Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
Maciej
M
Kujawski
Małgorzata
M
Rydzanicz
Maarit
M
Sarlomo-Rikala
Andrzej
A
Gabriel
Krzysztof
K
Szyfter
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002999:Clone Cells; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D012907:Smoking