Cytogenetic analysis of head and neck carcinomas

Cytogenetic analysis of sinonasal carcinomas

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal carcinomas, including nonkeratinizing (NK) squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC), are uncommon malignant neoplasms arising from the Schneiderian respiratory epithelium of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Due to their low frequency, the cytogenetic data on these tumors is limited.

METHODS

Seventeen patients who were operated on in our institution for extirpation of paranasal carcinomas were enrolled in this study. Fourteen pathologically confirmed samples of sinonasal carcinomas were cytogenetically analyzed using G-banding techniques after short-term culture. Three samples did not grow on culture.

RESULTS

Five of the 14 sinonasal carcinomas had an abnormal karyotype (36%). Of the 9 NK SCCs, 3 had abnormal karyotypes with numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies. Of the 5 patients with SNUC, 2 had an abnormal karyotype. One case of SNUC had a diploid complex karyotype. Another case of SNUC had a near triploid composite karyotype with 60-69 chromosomes. The chromosome arms that involved frequent breakpoint and rearrangements were: 1p, 6p, 7p, and 12q. We found that 3 of the 3 patients who died of disease displayed an abnormal karyotype, whereas 2 of the 11 patients who are alive displayed an abnormal karyotype (P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

The study revealed that more than a third of the paranasal carcinomas carry an abnormal karyotype. No specific common aberrations were found in these tumors. To our knowledge this is the first attempt to investigate sinonasal squamous and undifferentiated carcinomas on a genetic level using G-banding technique. Additional studies are required in order to determine whether cytogenetic data may serve as an adjunct to conventional pathology for the diagnosis and prognosis assessment of these rare and highly aggressive tumors.

Classic and Molecular Cytogenetic Analyses Reveal Chromosomal Gains and Losses Correlated with Survival in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Purpose: Genetic biomarkers of head and neck tumors could be useful for distinguishing among patients with similar clinical and histopathologic characteristics but having differential probabilities of survival. The purpose of this study was to investigate chromosomal alterations in head and neck carcinomas and to correlate the results with clinical and epidemiologic variables.

Experimental Design: Cytogenetic analysis of short-term cultures from 64 primary untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas was used to determine the overall pattern of chromosome aberrations. A representative subset of tumors was analyzed in detail by spectral karyotyping and/or confirmatory fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis.

Results: Recurrent losses of chromosomes Y (26 cases) and 19 (14 cases), and gains of chromosomes 22 (23 cases), 8 and 20 (11 cases each) were observed. The most frequent structural aberration was del(22)(q13.1) followed by rearrangements involving 6q and 12p. The presence of specific cytogenetic aberrations was found to correlate significantly with an unfavorable outcome. There was a significant association between survival and gains in chromosomes 10 (P = 0.008) and 20 (P = 0.002) and losses of chromosomes 15 (P = 0.005) and 22 (P = 0.021). Univariate analysis indicated that acquisition of monosomy 17 was a significant (P = 0.0012) factor for patients with a previous family history of cancer.

Conclusions: The significant associations found in this study emphasize that alterations of distinct regions of the genome may be genetic biomarkers for a poor prognosis. Losses of chromosomes 17 and 22 can be associated with a family history of cancer.

Chromosome 22q a frequent site of allele loss in head and neck carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) correlates with inactivated tumor suppressor genes. LOH at chromosome arm 22q has been found in a variety of human neoplasms, suggesting that this region contains a tumor suppressor gene(s) other than NF2 important to tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of LOH on chromosome 22q11.2-13 and determine whether there was a relationship between loss in this genomic region and tumor histologic parameters, anatomic site, and survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC).

METHODS

Fifty matched blood and HNSCC tumor samples taken at the time of surgical treatment were evaluated for LOH by use of four microsatellite markers mapping to 22q11.2-q13. Clinical information was available for all patients. The frequency and distribution of LOH was correlated with clinical (age, sex, use of tobacco and alcohol, site of primary tumor, clinical stage, adjuvant therapy and overall survival) and histologic parameters (histopathologic stage, tumor differentiation).

RESULTS

LOH at 22q was found in 19 of 50 (38%) informative tumors. The respective incidence of allelic loss for the patients was as follows: 28% at D22S421, 10% at D22S277, 8% at D22S446, and 4% at D22S280. No statistical differences were apparent with a mean follow-up of 30 months. Laryngeal tumors showed a higher incidence of LOH compared with oral tumors.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the D22S277 locus may be closely linked to a tumor suppressor gene (TSG) and involved in upper aerodigestive tract carcinogenesis. In particular, laryngeal tumors may harbor another putative TSG on 22q11.2-q12.3 that may play a role in aggressive stage III/IV disease.

Allelic loss of chromosome 13q14.3 in human oral cancer: correlation with lymph node metastasis

To evaluate the role of chromosome 13 deletions in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) progression and to define the precise localization of putative tumor suppressor genes, we studied tumors from 34 unrelated patients with oral SCC by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-loss of heterozygosity (LOH) assay, using 18 different polymorphic loci. Chromosome 13q allelic losses (LOH) were observed in 67.6% at 1 or more loci. These results enabled the identification of a putative minimal region of deletion mapped at 13q14.3. The commonly deleted region is located close, but telomeric to the RB1 locus. We also examined the same samples for inactivation of the RB1 gene by immunohistochemical analysis of paraffin-embedded samples, but no significant variation in RB protein expression was detected. In addition, we also performed PCR-single-strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis to detect any mutation of the RB1 gene using 52 primer pairs, which covers all exons of this gene. We found no mutations of the RB1 gene in our samples. Interestingly, we found significant correlation between LOH of 13q14.3 and lymph node metastasis. Our results indicate that LOH of 13q is a common event in oncogenesis and/or progression of oral SCC, and also suggest the existence of a new suppressor gene near D13S273-D13S176 loci which may play a role in these events.

Chromosome 11 abnormalities in Bowen disease of the vulva

Chromosomal cytogenetic abnormalities are common in tumor cells and are often the basis for more detailed chromosomal mapping of tumor suppressor and oncogenes. Chromosome 11 abnormalities are frequently recognized in various neoplasms. We report a case of Bowen disease (squamous cell carcinoma in situ) of the vulva with an isolated 11p cytogenetic abnormality. A chromosome 11 paint confirmed two copies of chromosome 11 in all analyzed metaphases. An 11p subtelomeric probe confirmed an abnormality of 11p15-->pter indicative of a deletion. Previous studies of invasive vulvar cancers also frequently show 11p cytogenetic abnormalities, but never as an isolated finding. The patient suffered from other diseases that may also be related to this locus. Breakage and p53 studies were normal. It is possible that an 11p abnormality in Bowen's disease is a precursor in the evolution of invasive vulva cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of tissues from patients with familial paragangliomas of the head and neck

BACKGROUND

Paragangliomas of the head and neck are slow-growing tumors that originate from neural crest cells. Between 7% and 9% of these tumors have a familial occurrence. The suspected gene for familial paragangliomas (FP) is transmitted with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with incomplete penetrance, and appears to exhibit genomic imprinting. It has been demonstrated by family studies that individuals who inherit the gene(s) from their father will develop the disease. Through linkage analysis, the gene(s) for FP has been postulated to be located on the long arm of chromosome 11. The discovery of many different genes has been elucidated through the cytogenetic analysis of affected individuals who carry specific chromosome aberrations. This project was designed to look for chromosome abnormalities in several second-generation family members to further assist in the localization of the gene(s) for FP.

METHODS

This study involved the cytogenetic evaluation of lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and tumor cells of several second-generation family members from a three-generation family with FP of the head and neck to look for chromosome abnormalities generally, and for abnormalities of chromosome 11 specifically. Standard cytogenetic techniques were used for lymphocyte and fibroblast cultures. Tumor cells were cultured in a collagen matrix with F12 medium supplemented with 3% L-glutamine and 10% fetal calf serum.

RESULTS

There were no detectable abnormalities of chromosome 11 in any of the cells. However, nonrandom abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and 7 were seen in some of the tumor cells of one FP patient. To our knowledge, this is the first article which demonstrated the ability to successfully culture FP of the head and neck.

Cytogenetic analysis of 11 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck

We report clonal chromosomal abnormalities in short-term cultures of 11 squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Recurrent deletions were seen at 1p13 (four cases), 6q15q26 (three cases), 6q21q25 (two cases), 12p11.2 (three cases), and 3p13-p23 (three cases). Structural aberrations affecting chromosome 11 with different breakpoints were seen in 7 of 11 tumors. Cytogenetic evidence for gene amplification in the form of homogeneously staining region (hsr) was seen in three tumors (two at 11q13). The results of this study shows that the 1p13, 3p13-p23, 6q15-q26, 6q21-q25, and 12p11.2 were frequently deleted in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.

Consistent chromosomal losses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines

Clonal chromosomal abnormalities were characterized in nine cell lines established from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Aneuploidy was a common feature; one cell line was near-diploid, three were near-triploid, four were near-tetraploid, and one cell line showed extensive variation in chromosome numbers. Consistent numerical abnormalities included loss of the sex chromosomes in six cell lines, losses of chromosomes 2 and 21 in six and five cell lines, respectively, and gain of chromosome 20 in five cell lines. Recurrent structural rearrangements included del(10)(q22-q26) (seven cell lines), i(5)(p10) (six cell lines), i(8)(q10) (six cell lines), add(19)(q13) (six cell lines), del(4)(q21-q31.3) (five cell lines), i(3)(q10) (four cell lines), del(12)(p11.1-p12) (four cell lines), and add (18)(q21-q23) (four cell lines). Other changes were noted in lower frequencies. Loss of specific regions on chromosomes 2, 3p, 4q, 5q, 8p, 10q, 12p, 18q, 19q, and 21 suggests that they may represent sites of putative tumor suppressor genes, loss of which may play a role in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Alternatively, gain of chromosomal region 3q, 5p, and 8q due to isochromosome formation suggests that more than one mechanism is involved in malignant transformation. Cytogenetic evidence of gene amplification was found in two cell lines; as an hsr(11)(q13) in one and as dmins in the other. The clonal karyotypes of four cell lines were compared with those of their respective primary tumors. In all cell lines, clonal evolution had occurred, with loss of some rearrangements present in the primary tumors or the gain of additional abnormalities.

Cytogenetic findings in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity

A case of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity is presented which, in addition to normal metaphases, cytogenetically displayed two cell clones with chromosomal aberrations: 46,XY,1+del(5)(q13),der(18)t(5;18)(q13;p11),-5 and 49,XY,+5,+7,+10 After a review of the literature of the few cytogenetically analyzed cases, the findings confirm the multiclonal origin of oral SCC and also the commonly seen aberrations of chromosome 5.

Chromosome abnormalities in oral squamous cell carcinomas

Strong evidence in favour of the somatic mutation theory of cancer, which states that genomic rearrangements are early and essential events in tumour development, has during the past two decades been obtained from both cytogenetic and molecular genetic studies of neoplastic cells. More than 14,000 neoplasms with acquired clonal chromosome aberrations have been reported; the majority have, however, been haematological malignancies, whereas still little is known about the karyology of the quantitatively more important carcinomas. For oral squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), which constitute a substantial subset of human malignancies, only 63 short-term cultured tumours with karyotypic aberrations have been described. Simple numerical changes, mostly -Y, +Y, or +7, have been detected as the sole anomalies in 19 tumours, but these aberrations are probably not causally related to the neoplastic process. The remaining 44 SCC have had structural changes of varying complexity, often together with numerical aberrations. An assessment of the karyotypic imbalances resulting from these aberrations reveals that chromosomes 9, 13, 18 and Y are recurrently lost, and that deletions frequently involve chromosome arms 3p, 7q, 8p, 11q, 17p and the short arms of all acrocentric chromosomes. The chromosomal breakpoints in structural rearrangements frequently involve the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1, 3, 8, 14 and 15 as well as bands 1p22, 11q13 and 19p13. At least one of these bands has been rearranged in 70% of SCC with structural aberrations and they probably contain loci of importance in oral squamous cell carcinogenesis. A comparison of data obtained from oral and other types of SCC--laryngeal, oesophageal, lung, cervical, and anal canal--indicates that some of the events in the multistep process of SCC development involve the same genetic pathways irrespective of site of origin.

Oncogenes, tumor suppressors and viruses in oral squamous carcinoma

The pathogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma involves recognised carcinogens in tobacco and/or alcohol but other factors, including viruses, may also have a role. This paper reviews the gene changes revealed in oral carcinoma, the evidence implicating viruses, and mechanisms whereby viruses may affect gene function.

Polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the short arm of chromosome 3 in primary head and neck squamous carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Deletion or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the polymorphic loci on the short arm of chromosome 3 has been reported in a large number of renal cell, small cell lung, non-small cell lung, and cervical carcinomas, suggesting the presence of one or more putative tumor suppressor genes at chromosome 3p. Similar studies in primary head and neck carcinoma are lacking.

METHODS

To investigate the possibility of chromosome 3p deletions, the authors applied a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, in conjunction with conventional Southern blot techniques, to DNA samples of matched normal mucosa and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas from 18 patients. The authors also assessed the merit of the PCR-based assay as a rapid screening tool, particularly in assaying limited tissue samples.

RESULTS

Constitutional heterozygosity at the polymorphic loci varied in the 18 normal samples that the authors studied: 12 at the D3F15S2 locus (on telomeric 3p21), 7 at the D3S32 locus (on centromeric 3p21), and 9 at the THRB locus (on 3p24). In 18 matched carcinoma specimens, LOH (deletion) was observed at D3S32 in 0 of 7, at D3F15S2 in 9 of 12 (75%), and at THRB in 3 of 9 cases (33%).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the PCR-based assay and Southern blotting were completely concordant in all specimens the authors studied. This study indicates that deletion at 3p is a frequent abnormality in primary head and neck carcinoma and that the most common deletion region is telomeric to D3S32. The authors also observed an apparent correlation among poor histologic differentiation, DNA aneuploidy, and 3p deletions. Most poorly and moderately differentiated and aneuploid carcinomas manifested the 3p deletion. Therefore, the authors suggest an association between deletion at 3p and aggressive biologic behavior.

Consistent chromosomal anomalies in keratinocyte cell lines derived from untreated malignant lesions of the oral cavity

Cytogenetic analysis has been carried out on 8 early passage cell lines derived from 8 untreated human oral squamous cell carcinomas. Clonal aberrations were detected in the karyotypes of each cell line. A high frequency of breakpoints were noted on chromosomes 1, 7, 8, 9, 11, and X. An isochromosome 8 was present in 6 out of 8 cell lines; isochromosome 9 (3 cell lines) and isochromosome 11 (1 cell line) were also found. In 4 out of 8 cell lines X chromosome harboured breakpoints, a novel finding in oral squamous cell carcinomas. Breakpoints were common on chromosome 1, with 1p12-p13 most frequently involved. Tandem duplication of 11q13-q23, which contains a number of growth regulatory genes, was also noted in 2 cases. We correlate the sites of proto-oncogenes and other growth control genes with chromosomal breakpoints and suggest that several of these may play a role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer.

Chromosome 9 anomalies as the primary clonal alteration in a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the epiglottis

We present the cytogenetic characterization of a short-term culture of a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the epiglottis from a 67-year-old male patient who was admitted to this hospital for treatment. This patient had a history of chronic exposure to tobacco and alcohol, environmental carcinogens known to be related to the etiology of the disease. The tumor karyotype showed three distinct clones: 1) cells with chromosome 9 anomalies; 2) cells with chromosome 9 and other clonal structural anomalies involving chromosomes 1, 11, 14, and 17; and 3) cells whose chromosomes were partially or totally pulverized. The anomalies on chromosome 9 were homozygous inversion (p12q13), deletions at regions q22, q34.1, and p13, and i(9q) formation. Structural clonal anomalies on other chromosomes included translocations, deletions, and isochromosome formation. The presence of a chromosome 9 anomaly alone or in conjunction with other anomalies suggests that this aberration may be a nonrandom primary event in the progression of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.