1/4. Diagnostic relevance of chromosomal in-situ hybridization in Merkel cell carcinoma: targeted interphase cytogenetic tumour analyses.AIMS: To resolve the conflicting diagnoses of five pathologists (which included well-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma, malignant carcinoid, undifferentiated small-cell carcinoma, primitive neuroectodermal tumour, metastases of small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC)), and tumour-free lungs after necropsy, we investigated an alarmingly metastasizing MCC in a 32-year-old Caucasian man using chromosomal in-situ hybridization (CISH). Differences in incidence and course in males and females also prompted targeted analyses for chromosomes X and Y. The lesion was also analysed for p53 gene mutations. methods AND RESULTS: paraffin sections of the thorax, buccal lymph nodes and scalp tumours were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. immunohistochemistry was performed with antibodies against pancytokeratin, keratin 20, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), chromogranin, neurofilaments and vimentin, among others. Sections (5-6 microm) of the tumours were analysed with alpha-satellite probes for chromosomes 1, 6, 7, 11, 12, 17, 18, X and Y using CrSH; and exons 5-9 of the p53 gene were examined by polymerase chain reaction and single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) methods. Although positive for pancytokeratin, keratin 20, chromogranin, NSE, synaptophysin and vimentin, the similarity in antigen profiles expressed by SCLC and MCC prevented a definitive tumour diagnosis. Chromosomal in-situ hybridization, however, revealed trisomies 1 and 11, two frequent aberrations in MCC, and trisomy 18. Moreover, 71% of the tumour cells had two to three copies of X, whereas 98% of the cell nuclei in the hair follicles and normal epidermis (purported Merkel cell origins) displayed one x chromosome. No mutations were detected in the five exons of the p53 gene examined. CONCLUSIONS: Had CISH been performed earlier, treatment may have been tailored specifically to suit MCC, since MCC and SCLC have different therapeutic strategies. Finally, chromosome X may be of prognostic relevance in MCC, which apparently predominates in females and yet shows poorer prognosis in males, and hence be worthy of further investigation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/4. Combined karyotyping, CGH and M-FISH analysis allows detailed characterization of unidentified chromosomal rearrangements in Merkel cell carcinoma.Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin. Cytogenetic studies have indicated that deletions and unbalanced translocations involving chromosome 1 short arm material occur in 40% of the investigated cases. Recurrent chromosomal imbalances detected by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis were loss of 3p, 10q, 13q and 17p and gains of 1q, 3q, 5p and 8q. In order to study genomic aberrations occurring in MCC in further detail, we combined karyotyping, CGH and multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH), a strategy that proved to be successful in the analysis of other malignancies. Analysis of 6 MCC cell lines and 1 MCC tumor revealed mostly near-diploid karyotypes with an average of 5 chromosomal rearrangements. The observed karyotypic changes were heterogeneous, with 3-27 breakpoints per case, leading to imbalance of the involved chromosomal regions that was confirmed by CGH. Chromosomal rearrangements involving the short arm of chromosome 1, the long arm of chromosome 3 and gain of 5p material were the most frequently observed abnormalities in our study. In keeping with previous observations, this series of MCCs showed no evidence for high-level amplification. We provid a detailed description of chromosomal translocations occurring in MCC that could be useful to direct future intensive investigation of these chromosomal regions.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.33333333333333keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/4. comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) discloses chromosomal and subchromosomal copy number changes in Merkel cell carcinomas.We analyzed three Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC), applying comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) with dna from paraffin-embedded and cultured tumor material as the probes. By this method, numerous changes in chromosome copy numbers were observed in each tumor investigated. Recurrent gains of chromosomes 1, 6, 18q and 20 were detected in two tumors. A third tumor showed complex chromosomal copy number changes, including gain of chromosome 8 and 9. These gains, as well as gain of chromosome 1 in the first two tumors, were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization to paraffin tissue sections. Our results support the view that important genes for MCC development may be located on chromosomes 1, 6, 18q and 20.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/4. Molecular analysis of 1p36 breakpoints in two Merkel cell carcinomas.Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine tumor of the skin. Only little information is available on the genetic alterations occurring in this tumor. Cytogenetic studies thus far have not shown recurrent chromosomal changes, although various structural chromosome 1 rearrangements, including deletions, often leading to loss of distal 1p material appear to be frequent. We report on fluorescence in situ hybridization and loss of heterozygosity analyses of an MCC tumor and MCC cell line UISO. The present study has shown that two distinct regions in the most distal band 1p36 on the short arm of chromosome 1 can be implicated in MCC. One region at 1p36.3 was delineated by a distal deletion in the MCC tumor as a result of an unbalanced translocation, resulting in loss of all markers distal to ENO1. This region was previously shown to be deleted in different tumor types including neuroblastoma. In cell line UISO an insertion in 1p36.2 was identified. The insertion breakpoint indicates a second, more proximal, region on 1p involved in MCC. The insertion breakpoint was mapped within a cluster of repetitive tRNA and snRNA genes and thus could coincide with the constitutional 1p36 breakpoint previously reported in a patient with neuroblastoma.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.16666666666667keywords = hybridization (Clic here for more details about this article) |