DNA sequence copy number increase at 8q: A potential new prognostic marker in high-grade osteosarcoma

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Abstract
Histologic response to chemotherapy is currently the best prognostic parameter in high‐grade osteosarcoma but it can be evaluated only after several weeks of chemotherapy. Thus a prognostic parameter known at the time of diagnosis would be of great clinical benefit. In the present study, we present the results of 31 primary high‐grade osteosarcomas analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). CGH allows for genome‐wide screening of a tumor by detecting alterations in DNA sequence copy number. The most frequent aberrations were copy number increases at 1q21 in 58% of the tumors and at 8q (8q21.3‐q22 in 52% and 8cen‐q13 in 45%), followed by copy number increases at 14q24‐qter (35%) and Xp11.2‐p21 (35%). The most common losses were detected at 6q16 (32%) and 6q21‐q22 (32%). Patients with a copy number increase at 8q21.3‐q22 and/or at 8cen‐q13 had a statistically significant poor distant disease‐free survival (p = 0.003) and showed a trend toward short overall survival (p = 0.04). Patients with a copy number increase at 1q21 showed a trend toward short overall survival (p = 0.04). Thus, specific genetic aberrations detected at the time of the diagnosis could be used in prognostic evaluation of high‐grade osteosarcoma. Int. J. Cancer (Pred. Oncol.) 84:114–121, 1999.