Discovery of new DNA amplification loci in prostate cancer by comparative genomic hybridization

BACKGROUND. DNA sequence amplifications are involved in the progression of many tumor types, and have also been found in advanced prostate cancer. The aim of this study was to detect new loci of DNA amplifications in prostate cancer. METHODS. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGM was used for whale genome s creening of DNA sequence copy number alterations in 27 advanced prostate ca ncers. RESULTS. The most prevalent changes were losses of 8p, 13q (52%, each), 6q (48%), 18q (37%), 5q (30%), 2q, 4q and 16q (26%, each), and gains of 8q (48 %), Xq (40%), and Xp (26%). in addition, 16 high-level amplifications were found. These included Xq12 (five), 8q24 (two), and 11q13 tone) with known p utative target genes (androgen receptor, MYC and Cyclin D1), and 1q21-25 (t hree),10q22 (two), 17q23-24 (two), and 8q21 tone) where the target genes re main unknown. CONCLUSIONS. High-level amplifications at different chromosomal sites occur in advanced prostate cancer. The detection of amplified chromosomal region s may serve as a starting point to discover novel oncogenes involved in pro state cancer progression. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.