Multilocus loss of heterozygosity allelotypes identify a genetic pathway associated with progression from low to high stage disease in neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma is a heterogeneous tumour with a variety of clinical phenotypes, ranging from a localised tumour with excellent outcome (stage 1) to a metastatic, usually fatal malignancy (stage 4). In order to investigate the genetic relationship between these tumour subtypes, a loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis was carried out. Composite LOH allelotypes incorporating data from 96 loci on 5 chromosomes (1p, 3p, 4p, 11q, 14q), were constructed for 62 neuroblastomas. Neuroblastomas with similar allelotypes were clustered into groups and allelotype patterns correlated with clinical features. Three distinct genetic subgroups of neuroblastoma were observed. The largest group (50% of tumours) was characterised by specific allelotype patterns indicative of a stepwise accumulation of genetic alterations (11q LOH-->1p, 4p, and/or 14q LOH-->3p LOH), associated with progression from low to high stage disease. These tumours are distinct from MYCN amplified neuroblastomas which have a more rapid and aggressive disease course, and also a proportion of low stage tumours, often ganglioneuromas or ganglioneuroblastomas, with restricted growth potential.
Chughtai
Shaheen A
SA
Division of Reproductive and Child Health, University of Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
Genus
Tracey
T
Ramani
Pramila
P
Dyer
Sara
S
Powell
Judy E
JE
McMullan
Dominic
D
Davison
Val
V
McConville
Carmel M
CM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis