Loss of chromosome 1 in myxopapillary ependymoma suggests a region out of chromosome 22 as critical for tumour biology: a FISH analysis of four cases on touch imprint smears.
OBJECTIVE
Ependymomas are glial tumours. They constitute approximately 5-10% of intracranial tumours and are tumours which can recur. Predictive factors of outcome in ependymomas are not well established. Karyotypic studies are relatively scarce and loss of chromosome 22 has been described to correlate with recurrence. We are unaware of any reports involving chromosome 1 aberrations in the malignant progression of ependymomas.


METHODS
Cytogenetic analysis of four myxopapillary ependymomas was performed using double target fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), focusing on chromosomes 1 and 22.


RESULTS
One patient's tumour had recurred. FISH was performed on 500 nuclei/tumours. All four cases showed a loss of chromosome 22q while only one showed an additional loss of chromosome 1p, and this was the one that recurred.


CONCLUSIONS
We support the presence of a tumour suppressor gene on 1p associated with relapse in myxopapillary ependymomas and suggest that status of chromosome 1p by FISH may indicate a high-risk group of patients harbouring this tumour. More studies of this type are needed towards this direction as our results refer to a minimal number of individuals analysed.
Tamiolakis
D
D
Department of Cytology, Regional Hospital of Chania, Thrace, Greece.
Papadopoulos
N
N
Venizelos
I
I
Lambropoulou
M
M
Nikolaidou
S
S
Bolioti
S
S
Kiziridou
A
A
Manavis
J
J
Alexiadis
G
G
Simopoulos
C
C
D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002878:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics*; D003581:Cytodiagnosis; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged