title: Detection of numerical abnormalities of chromosome 9 and p16/CDKN2A gene alterations in ovarian cancer with fish analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The molecular events leading to the development of ovarian cancer are not well-established. Defects of the retinoblastoma protein (pRb)/cyclin-D1/p16 pathway have been shown to play a critical role in the development of human malignancies. In particular, the p16/cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) gene located on chromosomal region 9p21 frequently is altered in several types of cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  To investigate both the presence of numerical abnormalities of chromosome 9 and p16 gene alterations in ovarian cancer, we studied 28 cases by the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique using a DNA p16 probe and an a-satellite probe specific for chromosome 9.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Numerical abnormalities of chromosome 9 were found in all studied cases. Polysomy 9 was detected in 10 cases while monosomy 9 in seven cases. In 11 cases, there were two cell populations, one with polysomy 9 and the other with monosomy 9. In all cases, the p16 gene deletion was observed. Among them, 25 cases presented deletion of p16 gene in 21.43%-86.3% of the examined cells. Three cases carried deletion of the p16 gene in a lower proportion (12.04%-19.49%). In five cases with p16 gene deletion, homozygous deletion was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numerical aberrations of chromosome 9 and p16 gene deletion are common findings in ovarian cancer. Data suggest that the p16 gene, located in the short arms of chromosome 9, may play a role in ovarian carcinogenesis. In addition, polysomy 9 could lead to activation of a number of oncogenes, thus participating in the neoplastic process in the ovaries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Genetics, Centrum for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, L8:02 Stockholm171 76, Sweden. christos.aravidis@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aravidis
authors.forename: Anna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Panani
authors.forename: Zoi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kosmaidou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thomakos
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodolakis
authors.forename: Aristeidis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D019942:Genes, p16; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*