DNA copy number changes in familial malignant mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is predominantly a sporadic malignancy linked t o exposure to asbestos. Clustering of MM in families suggests genetic susce ptibility as a contributing factor. We performed comparative genomic hybrid ization (CGH) analysis on tumor samples from members of a family with MM of the pleura and a history of parental cancer. Our specific aim was to find a recurrent copy number loss indicating the chromosomal area to which a gen e underlying the development of MM could be assigned according to the Knuds on two-hit hypothesis. We found losses at 1p, 6q. 9p. 13q, and 14q. The cop y number changes were very similar to those reported in sporadic cases. Our findings and results from sporadic cases highlight the importance of cloni ng the genes in the loss sites at 1p, 6q, 14q, and 22q. (C) 2001 Elsevier S cience Inc. All rights reserved.