Chromosome 2q24.2 is lost in sporadic but not in BRCA1-associated ovarian carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Comparison between BRCA1-associated and sporadic ovarian carcinomas is a potential method to identify candidate modifier gene/s involved in the carcinogenic pathway of either or both groups. A previous study identified a significant difference in the frequency of copy number gain at 2q24-q32 by comparing BRCA1-associated and sporadic ovarian tumour specimens using comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH). The present study aimed to investigate the reported allelic imbalance at 2q24-32 by amplification of several microsatellite markers at the region by quantitative microsatellite analysis (QuMA) using Taqman at the same region identified as a site of allelic imbalance.


METHODS
The copy number of the genomic region in 2q24-32 was established in 21 BRCA1-associated ovarian carcinomas and 14 sporadic cases using quantitative microsatellite polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Statistical analysis was performed using permutation test analysis.


RESULTS
A significant loss at D2S156 marker (2q24.2) (p = 0.026) compared with the other three markers at 2q24-32 was found in the sporadic cohort but not in the BRCA1-associated group (p = 0.385).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data do not support the association between copy number gain at 2q24-32 and BRCA1 mutation status in ovarian cancers reported previously. The novel finding of the present study was significant loss at 2q24.2 in sporadic ovarian cancers.
Aghmesheh
Morteza
M
Oncology Research Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia. Morteza.Aghmesheh@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Suo
Zhenhe
Z
Friedlander
Michael
M
Nesland
Jahn M
JM
Kaern
Janne
J
Stewart
Michael
M
Kconfab
Dorum
Anne
A
Tucker
Katherine M
KM
Buckley
Michael F
MF