Comparative genomic hybridization detects an increased number of chromosomal alterations in large cell/anaplastic medulloblastomas

Charles G. Eberhart*, John E. Kratz, Amy Schuster, Pat Goldthwaite, Kenneth J. Cohen, Elizabeth J. Perlman, Peter C. Burger

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

115 Scopus citations

Abstract

We correlate chromosomal changes in medulloblastomas with histologic subtype, reporting the analysis of 33 medulloblastoma specimens by comparative genomic hybridization, and a subset by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Of the 33 tumors, 5 were desmoplastic/nodular, 10 were histologically classic, and 18 were large cell/anaplastic. Chromosomal gains and losses were more common in anaplastic medulloblastomas than in non-anaplastic ones. We identified 4 medulloblastomas with c-myc amplification and 5 medulloblastomas with N-myc amplification; all 9 were of the large cell/anaplastic subtype. Additional regions with high level gains included 2q14-22, 3p23, 5p14-pter, 8q24, 9p22-23, 10p12-pter, 12q24, 12p11-12, 17p11-12, and Xp11. The majority of these high level gains occurred in anaplastic cases. We also found loss of chromosome 17p in 7 large cell/anaplastic cases but no nonanaplastic medulloblastomas. Finally, we detected a significantly increased overall number of chromosomal alterations in large cell/anaplastic medulloblastomas (6.8/case) compared to non-anaplastic ones (3.3/case). These findings support an association between myc oncogene amplification, 17p loss, and large cell/anaplastic histology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)36-44
Number of pages9
JournalBrain Pathology
Volume12
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology
  • General Neuroscience
  • Pathology and Forensic Medicine

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