TOWARDS THE ISOLATION OF A HUMAN-MALIGNANT EXTRAGONADAL GERM-CELL TUMOR-ASSOCIATED BREAKPOINT IN CHROMOSOME 11Q13

In a previous study we have defined a subgroup of human malignant extr agonadal germ cell tumours that is characterized by complex translocat ions involving chromosomes 6 and 11 (Echten et al. 1995). Here we repo rt (i) the use of fluorescent in situ hybridization, pulsed field gel electrophoresis and direct visual hybridization techniques to localize the tumour-associated breakpoint within band 11q13, and (ii) the cons truction of a phage library enriched for this region to facilitate gen omic walks towards the breakpoint. Extensive breakpoint-flanking conti gs were generated and within these contigs six candidate genes could b e identified.