title: Chromosomal imbalances in sporadic neuroendocrine tumours of the thymus.
abstract: Neuroendocrine (carcinoid) tumours of the thymus are rare neoplasms characterized by a highly malignant clinical behavior. Some of these tumors are associated with MEN1. In this study we evaluated 10 cases of sporadic thymic neuroendocrine tumours using immunohistochemistry and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). All tumours showed a diffuse expression of neuron specific enolase (NSE) and synaptophysin. Chromosomal imbalances were detected in 8/10 cases, the most frequent gains were seen on chromosome Xp (3/10 cases), 7p, 7q, 11q, 12q, and 20q (2/10 each), losses were most frequently detected at 6q (5/10 each), 6p (3/10 each), 4q (3/10 each), 3p, 10q, 11q and 13 q (2/10 each). These CGH data show a degree of overlap with chromosomal imbalances commonly observed in advanced thymomas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, INF 220/221, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany. ralf.rieker@med.uni-heidelberg.de
authors.forename: Ralf J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Rieker
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aulmann
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penzel
authors.forename: Philipp A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Blaeker
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morresi-Hauf
authors.forename: Herwart F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dienemann
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schirmacher
authors.forename: Gunhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mechtersheimer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018358:Neuroendocrine Tumors / Q000235:genetics*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase