Amplification of chromosome 21q22.3 harboring trefoil factor family genes in liver fluke related cholangiocarcinoma is associated with poor prognosis

AIM： To determine allelic imbalance on chromosomal region 21q22-qter including trefoil factor family genes （TFF） in cholangiocarcinoma （CCA） patients and analyze the correlation between allelic imbalances and clinicopathological parameters. METHODS： Quantitative PCR amplification was performed on four microsatellite markers and trefoil factor family genes （TFF1, TFF2, and TFF3） using a standard curve and SYBR Green I dye method. The relative copy number was determined by DNA copy number of tested locus to reference locus. The relative copy number was interpreted as deletion or amplification by comparison with normal reference range. Associations between allelic imbalance and clinicopathological parameters of CCA patients were evaluated by χ^2-tests. Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze survival. RESULTS： The frequencies of amplification at D21S1890, D21S1893, and TFF3 were 32.5%, 30.0%, and 28.7%, respectively. Patients who had amplification at regions covering D21S1893, D21S1890, and TFF showed poor prognosis, whereas patients who had deletion showed favorable prognosis （mean： 51.7 wk vs 124.82 wk, P = 0.012）. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that amplification of D21S1893, D21S1890 and TFF, blood vessel invasion, and staging were associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION： D21S1893-D21S1890 region may harbor candidate genes especially TFF and serine protease family, which might be involved in tumor invasion and metastasis contributing to poor survival. The amplification in this region may be used as a prognostic marker in the treatment of CCA patients.

Down syndrome and the molecular pathogenesis resulting from trisomy of human chromosome 21

Elizabeth Fisher and Victor collaboratively for many years on Tybulewicz have worked the Down syndrome mouse model project. Elizabeth Fisher＇s background is in molecular genetics and mouse models, with an interest in anueploidy. Victor Tybulewicz is an immunologist whose primary interest is in signal transduction from the antigen receptors of B and T cells.

Detailed Deletion Mapping of Chromosome 9p21-22 in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Objective: To further refine the extent of deletion on chromosome 9p21-22 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and provide evidence for discovering new tumor suppressor gene. Methods: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 9p21-22 was analyzed in 25 paired blood and tumor samples by using 11 high-density microsatellite polymorphic markers. Results: 17 of 25 cases (68.0%) showed LOH at one or more loci. Higher frequencies of LOH were found at four loci: D9S161 (35.0%), D9S1678 (31.5%), D9S263 (33.3%) and D9S1853 (33.3%), where 6 cases had a contiguous stretch of allelic loss. Conclusion: The minimal common region of deletion might be defined between D9S161 and D9S1853 (estimated about 2.7 cM in extent) at 9p21.1, suggesting that inactivation of one or more tumor suppressor genes located in this region may be an important step in NPC.