title: Corroboration of a familial chordoma locus on chromosome 7q and evidence of genetic heterogeneity using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
abstract: Chordoma, a rare bone tumor originating from notochordal remnants, has a genetic predisposition in some families. Previously, we performed linkage analysis using microsatellite (STR) markers on 3 unrelated chordoma kindreds (16 patients with chordoma) and reported significant evidence for linkage to chromosome 7q33 (Z(max) = 4.78) with a minimal disease gene region of 11 cM. In our present study, we performed linkage analysis in these 3 families using chromosome 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Parametric and nonparametric multipoint analyses showed significant linkage to 7q markers with p < 0.001 and Z(max) = 2.77, respectively. The minimal disease gene region was not reduced by combined SNP and STR haplotype analysis compared to the previous STR haplotype analysis alone. We genotyped members of a fourth chordoma family with SNP and STR markers for chromosome 7q and for 1p36, the location of a previously reported chordoma locus. Affected members of this family did not share a common haplotype on 7q, and the family did not show evidence of linkage to 1p36. Thus, we corroborated a chordoma locus on chromosome 7q in the 3 original families and demonstrated evidence for genetic heterogeneity in the fourth family. Our study also provided insights into some limitations and analytical complexities associated with using a dense SNP marker set in linkage analysis of complex pedigrees.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA. royang@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Xiaohong ' Rose '
authors.initials: X'
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beerman
authors.forename: Andrew W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Bergen
authors.forename: Dilys M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: Eamonn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sheridan
authors.forename: Norbert J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Liebsch
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chanock
authors.forename: Alisa M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002817:Chordoma / Q000235:genetics*; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D005260:Female; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers