DNA amplification on chromosome 7q in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck exhibit a highly variable pict ure of chromosomal aberrations. In the present study the clearly defined an atomical region of the tongue was analyzed for potentially specific pattern s of chromosomal alterations. Fresh tumor samples from 18 patients afflicte d by squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue constituted the clinical basis o f the present investigation. The tumor samples were analyzed on the basis o f comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), a molecular cytogenetic FISH-app roach. Gains in DNA copy numbers were detected as the predominant imbalance on chromosomes 7q (9/18), 3q (48/18), 16p (7/18) and 20q (7/18). The regio ns of minimal overlap on these chromosomes were mapped to 7q11.2q11.3 and 3 q26. A conspicuous finding was the frequent detection of amplifications in the 7q11 region. Gains in the 7q region have been rarely reported in CGH st udies of tumors derived from different regions of the head and neck. Amplif ications on 7q could thus be specifically linked with the tongue region and could correlate with specific clinical factors of this tumor entity.