Aneuploidy of chromosome 8 and C-MYC amplification in individuals from northern Brazil with gastric adenocarcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Gastric cancer is the third most frequent type of neoplasia. In northern Brazil, the State of Pará has a high incidence of this type of neoplasia. Limited data are available so far on the genetic events involved in this disease.


METHODS
Dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for the C-MYC gene and chromosome 8 centromere was performed in 11 gastric adenocarcinomas.


RESULTS
All cases showed aneuploidy of chromosome 8 and C-MYC amplification, in both the diffuse and the intestinal histopathological types of Laurén. No correlation was found between polysomy 8 and the histopathological characteristics of the tumors. C-MYC amplification, like homogeneously-stained regions (HSRs) and double minutes (DMs), was observed only in the intestinal-type. Translocation of C-MYC was observed only in the diffuse-type.


CONCLUSIONS
Chromosome 8 can be used as a marker in the diagnosis of gastric adenocarcinoma. The C-MYC oncogene requires further studies in order to verify if it is, when amplified, an etiological cause of transformation or a consequence of the proliferation process.
Calcagno
Danielle Queiroz
DQ
Human Cytogenetics and Toxicological Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biology, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
Leal
Mariana Ferreira
MF
Taken
Sylvia Satomi
SS
Assumpção
Paulo Pimentel
PP
Demachki
Samia
S
Smith
Marília de Arruda Cardoso
Mde A
Burbano
Rommel Rodríguez
RR
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000782:Aneuploidy; D001938:Brazil; D002898:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 / Q000235:genetics*; D005784:Gene Amplification; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D016259:Genes, myc / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D014178:Translocation, Genetic