Comparative genomic hybridization and its application to Wilms' tumorigenesis

Eighty sporadic Wilms' tumor samples were analyzed by comparative genomic h ybridization (CGH) to identify chromosomal regions involved in the etiology of the disease. Twenty percent of the samples showed chromosomal gains or losses. The majority of chromosomal gains and losses were similar to those identified through molecular and cytogenetic studies. Gains were observed o n chromosomes Iq, 7q, 8, and 12, whereas losses were found on chromosomes I p, 4p, 4q, 7p, 16q, 18q, 21, and 22q. Other genetic aberrations identified in this study included deletions of chromosomes 5p and 15q, as well as gain s of discrete loci on chromosomes 3p and 3q. These latter regions have not been previously implicated in Wilms' tumorigenesis and may contain novel ge nes relevant to the development and/or progression of this disease.