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ABSTRACT: Identification of genetic copy number changes in glial tumors is of importance in the context of improved/refined diagnostic, prognostic procedures and therapeutic decision-making. In order to detect recurrent genomic copy number changes that might play a role in glioma pathogenesis and/or progression, we characterized 25 primary glioma cell lines including 15 non glioblastoma (non GBM) (I-III WHO grade) and 10 GBM (IV WHO grade), by array comparative genomic hybridization, using a DNA microarray comprising approx. 3500 BACs covering the entire genome with a 1 Mb resolution and additional 800 BACs covering chromosome 19 at tiling path resolution. Combined evaluation by single clone and whole chromosome analysis plus 'moving average (MA) approach' enabled us to confirm most of the genetic abnormalities previously identified to be associated with glioma progression, including +1q32, +7, -10, -22q, PTEN and p16 loss, and to disclose new small genomic regions, some correlating with grade malignancy. Grade I-III gliomas exclusively showed losses at 3p26 (53%), 4q13-21 (33%) and 7p15-p21 (26%), whereas only GBMs exhibited 4p16.1 losses (40%). Other recurrent imbalances, such as losses at 4p15, 5q22-q23, 6p23-25, 12p13 and gains at 11p11-q13, were shared by different glioma grades. Three intervals with peak of loss could be further refined for chromosome 10 by our MA approach. Data analysis of full-coverage chromosome 19 highlighted two main regions of copy number gain, never described before in gliomas, at 19p13.11 and 19q13.13-13.2. The well-known 19q13.3 loss of heterozygosity area in gliomas was not frequently affected in our cell lines. Genomic hotspot detection facilitated the identification of small intervals resulting in positional candidate genes such as PRDM2 (1p36.21), LRP1B (2q22.3), ADARB2 (10p15.3), BCCIP (10q26.2) and ING1 (13q34) for losses and ECT2 (3q26.3), MDK, DDB2, IG20 (11p11.2) for gains. These data increase our current knowledge about cryptic genetic changes in gliomas and may facilitate the further identification of novel genetic elements, which may provide us with molecular tools for the improved diagnostics and therapeutic decision-making in these tumors.
Oncogene 04/2006; 25(10):1571-83. · 6.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We have isolated and characterised one PAC clone (dJ233C1) containing a linkage between alphoid and non-alphoid DNA. The non-alphoid DNA was found to map at the pericentromeric region of chromosome 20, both on p and q sides, and to contain homologies with one contig (ctg176, Sanger Centre), also located in the same chromosome region. At variance with the chromosome specificity shown by the majority of non-alphoid DNA, a subset of alphoid repeats derived from the PAC yielded FISH hybridisation signals located at the centromeric region of several human chromosomes, belonging to three different suprachromosomal families. The evolutionary conservation of this boundary region was investigated by comparative FISH experiments on chromosomes from great apes. The non-alphoid DNA was found to have undergone events of expansion and transposition to different pericentromeric regions of great apes chromosomes. Alphoid sequences revealed a very wide distribution of FISH signals in the great apes. The pattern was substantially discordant with the data available in the literature, which is essentially derived from the central alphoid subset. These results add further support to the emerging opinion that the pericentromeric regions are high plastics, and that the alpha satellite junctions do not share the evolutionary history with the main subsets.
Gene 11/2000; 256(1-2):43-50. · 2.34 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The PTEN gene, which encodes a tumor suppressor with phosphatase activity, is located on chromosome 10q23 and is mutated in different tumors, including glioblastomas (GBM). We found evidence for a PTEN-related sequence (PTEN-rs) on genomic DNA of GBM and non-neoplastic cells. PTEN-rs does not contain introns and presents several conserved missense mutations, including a T to G transversion at the initiation codon. Rsa I digestion may help to identify this putative PTEN pseudogene which, according to RT-PCR analysis on glioma, fibroblast, brain and lung cells, does not appear to be transcribed.
Cancer Letters 05/1999; 138(1-2):1-4. · 4.24 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Loss of genetic material at chromosome 19 is a rather frequent finding in malignant gliomas. Loss of heterozygosity at region 19q13.3 is common in oligodendrogliomas and is also present, together with other genetic alterations on the same chromosome, in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here we describe the results of cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on three GBM cell lines in which a series of complex chromosomal rearrangements affecting chromosome 19 were present. These genetic alterations suggest the presence of a common breakpoint at 19q11-12 which may point to the localization of a fragile site and/or to the presence of tumor suppressor gene(s) in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 19.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 05/1999; 110(2):82-6. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Alteration in apoptosis pathways (in particular mutations of p53 gene) may result in resistance of ovarian carcinoma to cisplatin. However, cisplatin resistance is likely to be multifactorial. An understanding of the molecular alterations associated with the development of resistance may be of considerable relevance in an attempt to optimize the therapeutic approach.
Two cisplatin-resistant sublines (IGROV-1/Pt0.5 and IGROV-1/Pt1), both characterized by mutant p53 (Cancer Res 1996; 56: 556-62), but with different degree of resistance were studied in terms of pattern of cross-resistance, susceptibility to drug-induced apoptosis, expression of gluthathione-dependent system, cellular pharmacokinetics, drug-induced DNA damage. The resistance index (ratio between the IC50 of resistant and sensitive cells) after a 96-hour drug exposure was 10 for IGROV-1/Pt0.5 and 14 for IGROV-1/Pt1 cells.
Resistant cells were cross-resistant to DNA-damaging agents and, interestingly, they had a collateral sensitivity to Taxol. The cellular response to Taxol paralleled the drug ability to induce apoptosis. The intracellular glutathione level was significantly increased in IGROV-1/Pt cells compared to the sensitive counterpart. In contrast, glutathione S-transferase level was consistently reduced in both sublines. gamma-Glutamyl transpeptidase activity, which was lower in resistant than in sensitive cells, was not directly correlated with glutathione level, thus suggesting a complex regulation of cellular glutathione content. In the resistant cells with the highest glutathione content, a reduced level of cisplatin-induced cross-link was found. Analysis of DNA platination revealed a slight decrease of DNA-bound platinum only in IGROV-1/Pt1 cells. Again, this reduction is consistent with a protective role for glutathione. The expression of metallothionein IIa was increased in both resistant variants.
Multiple changes are involved in acquired resistance of ovarian carcinoma cells including reduced susceptibility to apoptosis as consequence of inactivation of p53 and expression of defence mechanisms. The relative contribution is related to the degree of drug resistance. In particular, the glutathione-dependent system could have a role only in the development of a high degree of resistance. Finally, the finding that Taxol was very effective in inducing apoptosis in resistant sublines with p53 mutation supports the expression of an intact p53-independent pathway of apoptosis and suggests the pharmacological interest of Taxol in the treatment of p53-mutated tumors.
Annals of Oncology 05/1998; 9(4):423-30. · 6.43 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A novel tumor suppressor, PTEN/MMAC1, was recently found on chromosome 10q23 and mutations of this gene were described in about 20% of primary glioblastomas (GBM) and 60% of GBM cell lines. To define further the relevance of PTEN/MMAC1 mutations in GBM we investigated by SSCP analysis its coding sequence in 44 gliomas, including 41 GBM, and in 21 short-term cultures (15 GBM and six malignant astrocytomas). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 10q23 was present in at least one marker in the vicinity of the PTEN/MMAC1 locus in 59% of the informative GBM (primary tumors and cell cultures). SSCP variant bands were found in seven primary GBM (17%) and in one short-term GBM culture and sequence analysis confirmed the presence of somatic mutations in all these cases (five missense, one splicing mutation and two small deletions). These data indicate that PTEN/MMAC1 is inactivated in a subset of GBM and suggest that the high mutation frequency previously found in GBM established cell lines reflects culture condition artifacts rather than the true mutation frequency in vivo. Other suppressors, located on chromosome 10q, may also have a critical role in glioma tumorigenesis.
Oncogene 02/1998; 16(4):541-5. · 6.37 Impact Factor
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Chromosome Research 01/1998; 6(1):69-71. · 3.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A panel of ordered YAC clones, isolated using STSs in the Xq13-Xq23 region, was used to characterize by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) the Xq21 breakpoint in a t(X;1)(q21;p34) translocation female with premature ovarian failure. The YAC 949E11 was found to span the breakpoint, but also to join the two non-overlapping YACs 36CB1 and 40AB3, proximal and distal, respectively, to the patient's Xq21 breakpoint.
Clinical Genetics 11/1996; 50(4):267-9. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The loss of genetic material on chromosome 10q is frequent in different tumors and particularly in malignant gliomas. We analyzed 90 of these tumors and found loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in >90% of the informative loci in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Initial studies restricted the common LOH region to 10q24-qter. Subsequently, the study of a pediatric GBM suggested D10S221 and D10S209, respectively, as centromeric and telomeric markers of a 4-cM LOH region. It is interesting to note that, in one subset of cells from this tumor, locus D10S209 seems involved in the allelic imbalance of a larger region, with D10S214 as telomeric marker. This 17-cM region contains the D10S587-D10S216 interval of common deletion recently defined on another set of gliomas.
The American Journal of Human Genetics 06/1996; 58(6):1260-7. · 10.60 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: AML1, a gene encoding a protein of the PEBP2/CBF family of transcription factors is disrupted by translocations associated with human leukemia. In the t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), AML1 was found fused to a gene on chromosome 8 that we designated CDR (also known as ETO and MTG8). Immunoprecipitation experiments followed by immunoblotting using a combination of antibodies against different epitopes of one of the predicted chimeric proteins encoded by a fully characterized fusion transcript enabled us to visualize a chimeric protein in the t(8;21) Kasumi-1 cell line. The estimated size of this protein is 64 kDa. Immunoblotting of leukemic blasts containing the t(8;21) detected a protein of the same size. Immunofluorescence experiments indicate that the chimeric protein is localized in the nucleus. A normal AML1 protein of 27 kDa was also detected in t(8;21) Kasumi-1 cells. It remains to be established by which mechanism the mutant AML1 isoform may contribute to the leukemogenesis process of t(8;21)-positive acute myeloid leukemia.
Oncogene 02/1996; 12(2):437-44. · 6.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Centromere activation, an important mechanism in karyotype evolution, is occasionally observed in some human chromosome rearrangements. We report a possible occurrence of centromere activation in a marker chromosome containing an atypical centromere associated with an inverted duplication of the region 14q32 --> qter. The marker chromosome's reduced centromere lacks both the alpha and beta satellite sequences usually found at normal centromeres. In an attempt to identify the centromeric sequences, the marker chromosome was flow-sorted and amplified by a degenerate oligonucleotide primer polymerase chain reaction. Reverse chromosome painting experiments showed that the marker chromosome contains sequences that are unique to the distal region of chromosome 14, as well as a low copy number of (centromeric) sequences that are also highly represented in the centromeres of chromosomes 18 and 19. These data suggest the activation of a novel centromere in the 14q32 --> qter region, very likely consequent to the duplication of the region itself.
Cytogenetics and cell genetics 01/1996; 73(1-2):123-9.
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ABSTRACT: In the translocation (8;21)(q22;q22) associated with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), part of the long arm of chromosome 8 is reciprocally translocated onto chromosome 21. At the molecular level the translocation results in the fusion of the 5' region of the AML1 gene on chromosome 21 and almost the entire CDR gene (also ETO or MTG8) on chromosome 8. The translocation can be demonstrated by techniques such as Southern blot analysis of DNA and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis of mRNA. Neither of these methods demonstrates the translocation in individual cells. To detect the translocation at the single cell level, we used two probes, a cosmid clone containing the first five exons of AML1 and a P1 clone containing the entire CDR gene. Hybridization of the two probes to the distal and proximal side of the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 8 was expected to highlight the 8q-derivative in an interphase cell. To demonstrate the ability to identify the translocation in interphase cells using two-color FISH, these two probes were hybridized simultaneously to the Kasumi-1 cell line containing the 8;21 translocation and to t(8;21)-positive leukemic cells from a patient. Each probe was detected with a different color so that their relationship in the sample could be determined within the same interphase cell. Simultaneous hybridization of the CDR and AML1 probes to interphase cells resulted in one red and one green hybridization signal randomly located in the cell, from the hybridization to the normal chromosomes (8, 21), and one red-green pair of signals from the close hybridization of the two probes to the fusion gene on the derivative 8q-chromosome, indicating the translocation. This technique may be a useful complement for the analysis of the t(8;21), since critical information can be obtained from samples not suited for RT-PCR and conventional cytogenetic techniques. In addition, it may be useful for the assessment of minimal residual disease where RT-PCR is of limited value.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 03/1995; 79(2):97-103. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A new cell line was established from the bone marrow of a patient with chronic myeloid leukemia. The cells were attributed an intermediate myeloid phenotype on the basis of their cytochemical features and membrane antigen expression. These cells respond to both chemical and physiological activators of the signal transduction pathways with growth arrest and phenotype changes. Macrophage maturation can be induced in a fraction of the cells by gamma-interferon (gamma-IFN). Cells are however recruited again into the cell cycle by recultivation in gamma-IFN-free medium: variants unresponsive to gamma-IFN, and others which show either reversible or irreversible differentiation were isolated from the original cell line by cloning and sib-selection. These clones can be used to investigate the relationship between gamma-IFN response pathways and cell proliferation.
Cell Biology International 02/1995; 19(1):9-15. · 1.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We studied the karyotypes of eight differentiated gliomas, 19 anaplastic gliomas, and 23 glioblastomas (GBM). Normal stemlines were present in 70% of the differentiated and anaplastic gliomas; abnormalities were mostly characterized by loss of sex chromosomes. In GBM, on the contrary, only 13% of the stemlines were normal and three groups, 45,XO, near-diploid, and near tetraploid, could be identified. The most frequent alterations among GBM were: total or partial loss of chromosome 10 in nine cases, structural abnormalities of chromosome 9 in seven cases, and loss of the Y chromosome in stemline clones of seven cases. Less frequent abnormalities included chromosomes 7, 1, 3, and 19. Our data support the cytogenetic model of gliomas as multi-stage tumors. GBM, in particular, can originate from the evolution of astrocytomas but can also develop de novo. In both cases loss of genetic material on chromosome 10 seems to play a crucial role.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 08/1994; 75(2):77-89. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A cell line, GBM, was established from a human malignant glioblastoma and was characterized with particular reference to its response to conventional drugs. The GBM cell line exhibited a 73 +/- 7 h doubling time in monolayer cultures. Expression of glial fibrillary acidic and S-100 proteins was observed. Karyotype analysis of GBM cells at early passages revealed the presence of two near-triploid clones (A and B) with multiple chromosome rearrangements; a 100% frequency for clone B was observed in the established cell line. GBM cells had tumorigenic properties, since the s.c. injection of cultured cells into nude mice gave rise to slowly growing tumors. The morphology of GBM cells was retained during in vitro and in vivo passages, as judged by light microscopy. GBM cells were relatively resistant to most conventional drugs; among the tested drugs, only taxol exhibited a marked cytotoxic effect comparable to that found in cells of a different tumor type. GBM cells were found positive for the epidermal growth factor receptor, HER2-neu and P-glycoprotein by flow cytometry of cells labelled with monoclonal antibodies. In spite of the expression of relatively high gamma-glutamyltransferase activity, the intracellular glutathione level was comparable to that of other chemosensitive tumor cells. This glioblastoma cell line is a suitable model for the identification and preclinical studies of new agents and provides an additional system to explore the molecular basis of the intrinsic drug resistance of glioblastoma.
Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology 02/1994; 120(10):585-92. · 2.56 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A constitutional chromosome 14 rearrangement was observed in a female with a psychodevelopmental disorder. Karyotype analysis using a variety of chromosome techniques, QFQ, GTG, CBG, Ag-NOR and DA-DAPI, showed a deletion of chromosome 14q32.1-qter region in association with a supernumerary marker chromosome. The marker, resembling a submetacentric, approximately half the size of a G group chromosome is C band and Ag-NOR negative. The heteromorphism of the satellites showed that the deleted chromosome 14 is paternal in origin. Chromosome painting using an Alu-PCR probe specific for the human chromosome 14 and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showed that the marker contains chromosome 14q32 sequences. It is likely that the marker was generated from the deleted chromosome 14 region through a complex rearrangement.
Clinical Genetics 05/1993; 43(4):180-5. · 3.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A chromosome 13 with extra material on the short arm was observed in a 17-year-old boy showing defects in skeletal growth, an altered hormone profile and asthenoteratozoospermia, and in a 46 XX fetus subjected to prenatal diagnosis. The abnormal chromosome 13 had been transmitted from phenotypically normal parents who were the mother (case 1) and the father (case 2). The extra material on the abnormal chromosome 13 was brightly fluorescent after Q-banding, and positive in C-banding (CBG) and distamycin A-Dapi (DA-Dapi) banding. Staining of the nucleolus organizer region indicated its retention. In-situ hybridization of a Yq-specific repetitive DNA probe to chromosomal spreads from both cases demonstrated that the der(13) chromosome contains sequences of the Yq heterochromatic region. However, the apparently identical unbalanced (Y;13) translocation may either interfere (case 1) or not (father of case 2) with meiotic or postmeiotic sperm cell development.
Human Reproduction 05/1992; 7(4):495-9. · 4.47 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A de novo unbalanced t(2;22)(q37;q11.2) [corrected], resulting in the deletion of the 22pter-q11 and 2q37-qter regions, was observed in a 12-year-old girl born with a congenital malformation syndrome and later displaying signs of neurologic impairment. Some of the clinical signs observed appear to overlap those found in subjects monosomic in the 22q11 region affected by the DiGeorge syndrome. The chromosomal rearrangement observed may be related to a familial cytogenetic instability that also gives rise to sustained cancer predisposition.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 05/1989; 38(2):223-7. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: An index case with a congenital malformation syndrome enabled detection of a family that had a previous history of spontaneous abortuses and recurrence of neoplasia through three generations. Cytogenetic analysis performed on lymphocytes from 11 subjects in the second and third generation showed karyotypic alterations in both tumor bearers and apparently normal subjects. Chromosome variations consisted of: spontaneous chromosome fragility; chromosome translocations; polymorphisms in the heterochromatic regions in chromosomes Y, #1, #16, #22. The inheritance pattern of all chromosome rearrangements and heteromorphisms observed was established starting with the second generation, and the contribution of specific individuals was identified. Although the relationship between chromosomal instability and predisposition to gastric cancer does not appear to be coincidental, no specific chromosome alteration in normal somatic cells was shared by all members of the family who developed or are at risk of developing tumors.
Cancer Genetics and Cytogenetics 09/1987; 27(2):299-310. · 1.39 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The Sau3A family is a human, clustered, highly repetitive, GC-rich DNA family. In situ hybridization studies with a plasmid carrying a Sau3A monomer as a probe have shown that Sau3A sequences are preferentially concentrated in the heterochromatic regions of human acrocentric chromosomes (D and G groups, both in pericentromeric regions and in cytological satellites) and in pericentromeric heterochromatin of chromosome 1. The same chromosomal locations were observed by using as probes two recombinant phages which carry Sau3A-positive genomic sectors. The two sectors differ for the relative proportions of monomer and multiples of Sau3A repeats, which show different extents of homology to the cloned monomer, and for the presence, in one of the two, of a small amount of an unrelated repeat (alphoid DNA). The similarity of the results obtained with the three probes suggests that heterogeneous Sau3A repeats share the same chromosomal localizations and that the two analyzed genomic sectors may not contain significant amounts of repetitive DNAs other than the Sau3A family. A comparison between the chromosomal locations of Sau3A and EcoRI families of repeats has confirmed that each family is characterized by specific chromosomal locations and that single heterochromatic regions may contain both.
Human Genetics 05/1987; 75(4):326-32. · 5.07 Impact Factor
