SYNOPSIS OF UNBALANCED CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRA TIONS IN NEUROBLASTOMA BY COMPARATIVE GENOMIC HYBRIDIZATION

Neuroblastoma is the most frequent extracranial solid tumor of early c hildhood. Histologically and genetically, neuroblastoma represents a h eterogeneous group of tumors with significant differences in clinical behavior. In the past, several different characteristic chromosomal ab errations of neuroblastoma have been described, of which a deletion on chromosome Ip and N-myc amplification have been shown to be of major prognostic significance, However, the role of various other nonrandom DNA imbalances in tumor development and progression needs to be clarif ied, Taking advantage of the recently established comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), we show that this method is able to accurately de tect chromosomal imbalances of known prognostic impact. As CGH gives a comprehensive picture of genetic imbalances in just one experiment, i t additionally sheds light on other abnormalities of possible prognost ic relevance. We therefore recommend further use of this method not on ly in the field of resarch but also for the purpose of genetic routine diagnostics in neuroblastoma.