COMPARATIVE GENOMIC HYBRIDIZATION (CGH) DISCLOSES CHROMOSOMAL AND SUBCHROMOSOMAL COPY NUMBER CHANGES IN MERKEL CELL CARCINOMAS

We analyzed three Merkel cell carcinomas (MCC), applying comparative g enomic hybridization (CGH) with DNA from paraffin-embedded and culture d tumor material as the probes. By this method, numerous changes in ch romosome copy numbers were observed in each tumor investigated. Recurr ent gains of chromosomes 1, 6, 18q and 20 were detected in two tumors. A third tumor showed complex chromosomal copy number changes, includi ng gain of chromosome 8 and 9. These gains, as well as gain of chromos ome 1 in the first two tumors, were confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization to paraffin tissue sections. Our results support the vie w that important genes for MCC development may be located on chromosom es 1, 6, 18q and 20. (C) Munksgaard 1996.