Breast cancer can relapse both locally and at distant metastatic sites
. The mechanism of local recurrence is unknown, but seems to be due no
t only to the number of residual cancer cells (inadequate irradiation
or surgery), but also to their generically determined malignant potent
ial. To identify genetic alterations associated with local recurrence
risk in breast carcinoma, we analyzed 28 local recurrences and 173 pri
mary breast tumors for the ten most frequently altered genetic regions
in breast carcinomas, i.e., loss of heterozygosity on chromosomal arm
s 1p, 3p, 7q, 11p, 17p, 17q, and 18q, and amplification of the MYC and
ERBB2 protooncogenes and of genes in 11q13. Only INT2/FGF3 and CCNDI,
located in 11q13, were more frequently amplified in local recurrences
than in primary tumors (39% vs. 17%; P < 0.01). Moreover, recurrence-
free survival was shorter when the 11q13 region was amplified. These r
esults suggest that one or more genes located in 11q13 play an importa
nt role in local relapses of breast cancer. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.