Coexistence of copy number increases of c-Myc, ZNF217, CCND1, ErbB1 and ErbB2 in ovarian cancers.
BACKGROUND
We selected 5 oncogenes with well-established roles in carcinogenesis -- CCND1, ErbB1, ErbB2, c-myc and ZNF217 -- to investigate the coexistence of their copy imbalances in relation to the clinico-pathological characteristics of ovarian tumors.


METHODS
Fluorescence in situ hybridization for the 5 genes was applied to a preexisting tissue microarray. 38 ovarian tumors were successfully analyzed for copy number changes of the 5 genes.


RESULTS
At least one of these oncogenes was gained/amplified in 27 out of 38 tumors (71.1%). We report the highest frequency of c-myc genetic gain/amplification since it affected 42.1% of the ovarian tumors. We observed sequential involvement of copy number alterations of the other genes in the presence of c-myc disruption. The incidence of copy number changes of the 5 oncogenes -- both single and combinatorial -- was higher in high-grade tumors. All double aberrations in the serous group comprised c-myc and ZNF217copy number increases.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results revealed a combination between copy number increases of c-myc and ZNF217, associated with serous histology. The data from this combined analysis of the 5 oncogenes could be used as a basis in considering the combined approach in molecular-based therapy of ovarian cancer.
Dimova
Ivanka
I
Department of Medical Genetics, Medical University Sofia, Bulgaria. idimova73@yahoo.com
Raicheva
Sashka
S
Dimitrov
Rumen
R
Doganov
Nikolai
N
Toncheva
Draga
D
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics*; D002031:Bulgaria / Q000453:epidemiology; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB / Q000235:genetics*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C530104:CCND1 protein, human; C413364:ERBIN protein, human; C489427:MYC protein, human; D018739:Oncogene Proteins v-erbB; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D015534:Trans-Activators; C113698:ZNF217 protein, human; D019938:Cyclin D1