Cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization characterization of clonal chromosomal aberrations and CCND1 amplification in esophageal carcinomas

Cytogenetic analyses of four squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the esophagus showed complex numerical and structural abnormalities. Chromosomal bands or regions preferentially involved were 11q13, 8q10, 21q10, 3p10similar top11, 1p11similar toq11, 5p11similar toq11, and 14p11similar toq11. For the first time, to our knowledge, recurrent aberrations were identified in esophageal SCC, including homogenous staining region (hsr), isochromosomes i(3q) and i(21q), and ring chromosome. Losses of chromosomal material dominated over gains. Recurrent imbalances included under-representation of 4p13similar topter, 5q14similar toqter, 9p22similar topter, 10p, 11p13similar topter, 12p13similar topter, 17p10similar topter, 18p11similar topter, 21p, and 22p, as well as over-representation of 1q25similar toqter, 3q, 7q, and 8q. Interestingly, hsr at different chromosomal regions occur-red in three of four cases. With the application of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and multicolor combined binary ratio labeling-FISH with specific DNA probes, it could be shown that in two cases the hsr was derived from chromosome 11 material and that the amplicon included CCND1. Our results, together with previous molecular genetic findings, indicate that CCND1 might be a prime target in 11q13 amplification, and that amplification of this gene might be crucial in the tumorigenesis of esophageal SCC. These observed chromosomal aberrations and imbalances thus provide important information for further molecular genetic investigation of esophageal SCC. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.