Identification of recurrent chromosomal aberrations in germ cell tumors of neonates and infants using genomewide array-based comparative genomic hybridization.
Human germ cell tumors (GCTs) of neonates and infants comprise a heterogeneous group of neoplasms, including teratomas and yolk sac tumors with distinct clinical and epidemiologic features. As yet, little is known about the cytogenetic constitution of these tumors. We applied the recently developed genomewide array-based comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) technology to 24 GCTs derived from patients under the age of 5 years. In addition, we included seven tumors derived from children and adolescents older than 5 years. In the series from those under the age of 5 years, most teratomas displayed normal profiles, except for some minor recurrent aberrations. In contrast, the yolk sac tumors displayed recurrent losses of 1p35-pter and gains of 3p21-pter and of 20q13. In the GCTs of patients older than 5 years, the main recurrent anomalies included gains of 12p and of whole chromosomes 7 and 8. In addition, gains of the 1q32-qter region and losses of the 6q24-qter and 18q21-qter regions were frequent in GCTs of varied histology, independent of age. We concluded that array CGH is a highly suitable method for identifying recurrent chromosomal anomalies in GCTs of neonates and infants. The recurrent anomalies observed point to chromosomal regions that may harbor novel diagnostic/prognostic identifiers and genes relevant to the development of these neoplasms.
Veltman
Imke
I
Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Veltman
Joris
J
Janssen
Irene
I
Hulsbergen-van de Kaa
Christina
C
Oosterhuis
Wolter
W
Schneider
Dominik
D
Stoop
Hans
H
Gillis
Ad
A
Zahn
Susanne
S
Looijenga
Leendert
L
Göbel
Ulrich
U
van Kessel
Ad Geurts
AG
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D018237:Germinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000235:genetics*