Prediction of nodal metastasis by comparative genomic hybridization in biopsy specimens from patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Selection of appropriate protocols for treatment of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) is dependent on lymph node metastasis status. Therefore, it is important to know whether lymph node metastasis is present before treatment.


METHODS
In this study, we examined the relation between DNA sequence copy number aberrations detected by comparative genomic hybridization and lymph node metastasis in 26 surgically resected SESCCs (training samples). We then assessed whether the genetic information is predictive for nodal status in biopsy specimens from eight newly enrolled patients with SESCC (blinded samples).


RESULTS
Pathological examination revealed that 17 of 26 training samples (65.4%) did not have associated lymph node metastasis. Gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter were observed in 12, including all (nine of nine) with nodal metastasis. Fourteen training samples did not have gain of either 8q24 or 20q12-qter. Of the blinded samples, two showed no gain of 8q24 or 20q12-qter, and as anticipated the postoperative pathological examination revealed no nodal metastasis. The remaining six blinded samples had gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter, and lymph node metastasis was detected by postoperative examination in four of these tumors.


CONCLUSIONS
Absence of gains of 8q24 and/or 20q12-qter appears to be associated with absence of lymph node metastasis in patients with SESCC; therefore, less invasive surgery can be chosen.
Ueno
Takashi
T
Department of Pathology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube 755-8505, Yamaguchi, Japan.
Tangoku
Akira
A
Yoshino
Shigefumi
S
Abe
Toshihiro
T
Hayashi
Hideto
H
Toshimitsu
Hiroaki
H
Hashimoto
Kiichiro
K
Satoh
Tomomitsu
T
Oga
Atsunori
A
Furuya
Tomoko
T
Oka
Masaaki
M
Sasaki
Kohsuke
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000556:secondary; D002890:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20 / Q000235:genetics; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm