Objectives. The genetic basis underlying prostate cancer development and pr
ogression is poorly understood. The primary aim of this study was to identi
fy chromosomal regions important for progression in clinically localized pr
ostate cancer removed by radical prostatectomy.
Methods. Comparative genomic hybridization was used for whole genome screen
ing of DNA sequence copy number alterations in 28 pathologically organ-conf
ined tumors (pT2) and 28 tumors with infiltration of the seminal vesicles (
pT3b).
Results. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis showed on average 2.0 /- 2.4 chromosomal alterations per tumor with move frequent losses (mean 1.
3 +/- 1.8) than gains (mean 0.7 +/- 1.0). The percentage of tumors without
alterations was higher in Stage pT2 (21%) than in Stage pT3b (50%). Losses
of 8p (21%), 13q (21%), 5q (14%), 16q (14%), and 18q (13%) and gains of Xq
(21%) and 8q (9%) were the most prevalent changes. Distinct regional altera
tions included minimal overlapping regions of loss at 5q13-q21, 6q14-q21, a
nd 18q21-qter. There was only a small increase in the number of alterations
from Stage pT2 to Stage pT3b (mean 1.6 +/- 2.3 versus 2.5 +/- 2.4). Howeve
r, two individual alterations-gain of 8q and loss of 18q-were significantly
more frequent in Stage pT3b than in Stage pT2 prostate cancer (P = 0.02 an
d P = 0.04, respectively), suggesting that genes in these regions may be im
portant for prostate cancer progression.
Conclusions. The detection of chromosome 8q gains and 18q losses and the id
entification of the corresponding target genes could become a molecular too
l for better characterization of clinically localized prostate cancer. UROL
OGY 56: 880-885, 2000. (C) 2000, Elsevier Science Inc.