Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is highly prevalent in Southern China and Southeast Asia. To unveil the molecular basis of this endemic disease, high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization arrays were used for systematic investigation of genomic abnormalities in 26 nasopharyngeal carcinoma samples. A comprehensive picture of genetic lesions associated with tumorigenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma was generated. Consistent chromosomal gains were frequently found on 1q, 3q, 8q, 11q, 12p, and 12q. High incidences of nonrandom losses were identified on chromosomes 3p, 9p, 11q, 14q, and 16q. In addition to previously characterized regions, we have identified several novel minimal regions of gains, including 3q27.3-28, 8q21-24, 11q13.1-13.3, and 12q13, which may harbor candidate nasopharyngeal carcinomaassociated oncogenes. In this study, gain of 11q13.1-13.3 was the most frequently detected chromosomal aberration and a 5.3-Mb amplicon was delineated at this region. Within this 11q13 amplicon, concordant amplification and overexpression of cyclin D1 (CCND1) oncogene was found in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines, xenografts, and primary tumors. Knockdown of cyclin D1 by small interfering RNA in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines led to significant decrease of cell proliferation. The findings suggest that cyclin D1 is a target oncogene at 11q13 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and its activation plays a significant role in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumorigenesis. (Cancer Res 2005; 65(18): 8125-33)

Since a considerably high incidence of allelic loss on chromosome 2q was detected in lung carcinoma and a homozygous deletion at chromosome 2q33 was detected in a small cell lung carcinoma cell line, NCI-H82, a novel tumor suppressor gene has been suggested to be present in this chromosomal region. In the present study, we constructed a cosmid contig map covering the homozygous deleted region, which was estimated as being 220 kbp in size, and identified a gene from the deleted region. All of the coding exons of this gene were homozygously deleted in this cell line, while a 5'-non-coding exons was retained. Since the gene encodes a protein with striking similarity to several members of a family of phospholipase C, we designated this gene as PLC-L (phospholipase C-deleted in lung carcinoma). The PLC-L gene was expressed in a variety of fetal and adult organs including the lung. However, its expression was greatly reduced in seven of 13 (53.8%) of small cell lung carcinoma and 13 of 15 (86.7%) of non-small cell lung carcinoma cell lines. Since its homology to phospholipase C genes suggests the involvement of the PLC-L gene in inositol phospholipid-based intracellular signaling cascade, it is possible that aberrant expression of the PLC-L gene contributes to the genesis or progression of human lung carcinoma.

Purpose:The aim of this study is to comprehensively characterize genome copy number aberrations in medulloblastomas using high-resolution array comparative genomic hybridization. Experimental Design: High-density genomic arrays containing 1,803 BAC clones were used to define recurrent chromosomal regions of gains or losses throughout the whole genome of medulloblastoma. A series of 3 medulloblastoma cell lines and 16 primary tumors were investigated. Results: The detected consistent chromosomal aberrations included gains of 1q21.3-q23.1 (36.8%), 1q32.1 (47.4%), 2p23.1-p25.3 (52.6%), 7 (57.9%), 9q34.13-q34.3 (47.4%), 17p11.2-q25.3 (89.5%), and 20q13.31-q13.33 (42.1%), as well as losses of 3q26.1 (57.9%), 4q31.23-q32.3 (42.1%), 6q23.1-25.3 (57.9 %), 8p22-23.3 (79 %), 10q24.32-26.2 (57.9 %), and 16q23.2-q24.3 (63.2%). One of the most notable aberrations was a homozygous deletion on chromosome 6q23 in the cell line DAOY, and single copy loss on 30.3% primary tumors. Further analyses defined a 0.887 Mbp minimal region of homozygous deletion at 6q23.1 flanked by markers SHGC-14149 (6q22.33) and SHGC-110551 (6q23.1). Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed complete loss of expression of two genes located at 6q23.1, AK091351 (hypothetical protein FLJ34032) and KIAA1913, in the cell line DAOY. mRNA levels of these genes was reduced in cell lines D283 and D384, and in 50% and 70% of primary tumors, respectively. Conclusion: Current array comparative genomic hybridization analysis generates a comprehensive pattern of chromosomal aberrations in medulloblastomas.This information will lead to a better understanding of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. The delineated regions of gains or losses will indicate locations of medulloblastoma-associated genes. A 0.887 Mbp homozygous deletion region was newly identified at 6q23.1. Frequent detection of reduced expression of AK091351 and KIAA1913 genes implicates them as suppressors of medulloblastoma tumorigenesis.