ANALYSIS OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR GENE AMPLIFICATION AND ALTERATION IN STEREOTAXIC BIOPSIES OF BRAIN-TUMORS

IN RECENT YEARS, results from molecular-based investigations of centra l nervous system neoplasms have indicated that the occurrence of speci fic genetic alterations correlates with tumor malignancy and clinical behavior. One such example is epidermal growth factor receptor gene am plification and alteration in association with tumors histologically c lassified as glioblastoma multiforme. As our understanding of the impl ications of these changes develops, detection of epidermal growth fact or receptor alteration and amplification may have diagnostic, prognost ic, and ultimately, therapeutic value. The goal of this communication is to demonstrate the usefulness of stereotactic specimens for molecul ar genetic analysis, in this case, the analysis of the epidermal growt h factor receptor gene for amplification and alterations. The techniqu es used here will maximize the number of cases from which useful infor mation can be obtained, Properly adapted, the value of these technique s for expanding our understanding of these lesions is enormous.