title: Prognostic value of chromosomal imbalances in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most aggressive tumors, with a very low overall survival rate. We investigated surgically resected squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) to identify chromosomal imbalances and their value for individual prognostication.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 80 cases, including 55 SCC and 25 AC, were retrospectively analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. To model the sequential cytogenetic events, an oncogenetic tree model was applied based on maximum likelihood estimation. Clinicopathologic data and follow-up data were correlated with chromosomal imbalances.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-one percent of patients were in stage I, 32% in stage II, and 17% in stage III, without statistically significant differences in staging distribution between SCC and AC. The average number of copy number imbalances was higher in SCC than in AC (9.4±1.2 vs 5.4±1.1; p=0.11). Frequency of chromosomal imbalances at -3p, +3q, -4q, +5q, -5q, +7q, and -13q were significantly different between SCC and AC. Subsequently, oncogenetic tree modeling identified different clusters of chromosomal imbalances for SCC and AC. Appearance of the -3p-cluster in SCC was associated with decreased overall survival independent of clinicopathologic parameters (mean, 42.8±7.5 months vs 80.1±9.1 months, log rank p=0.019), whereas in AC no prognostic value could be identified for specific clusters of chromosomal imbalances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although, the limited number of analyzed cases allows a cautious statement on chromosomal imbalances, the oncogenetic tree modeling suggests distinct patterns of cytogenetic evolution for SCC and AC with implications for clinical outcome in SCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University Medical Center, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. drdanner@arcor.de
authors.forename: Bernhard C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Danner
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hellms
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gunawan
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Didilis
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Füzesi
authors.forename: Friedrich A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Schöndube
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D055028:Comparative Genomic Hybridization / Q000379:methods*; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm