X-chromosome heterozygosity loss tied to aggressive gastrinomas
X-chromosome loss of heterozygosity may predict aggressive growth of gastrinomas, researchers report In the April 1st issue of Cancer.
Dr. Yuan-Jia Chen and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland observe that in patients with gastrointestinal endocrine malignancies, tumor growth, rather than hormone aberration, is usually the cause of death. There are no clinical or laboratory markers, however, to identify patients whose tumors are likely to grow more aggressively.Because X-chromosome loss of heterozygosity is associated with aggressive tumor growth and decreased survival in patients with certain nonendocrine malignancies, the researchers sought to determine whether such an alteration could be identified in patients with gastrinomas, and if so, whether its presence was correlated with tumor behavior and prognosis.In analyses of gastrinoma tissues from 16 women with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, the investigators found that nine specimens had X-chromosome loss of heterozygosity, which was “significantly associated with aggressive postoperative tumor growth, increased primary tumor size, and pancreatic primaries.”At the 12 loci analyzed, the loss of heterozygosity ranged from 6 to 23 percent. These findings, the researchers conclude, “suggest that X-chromosome loss of heterozygosity may provide a useful molecular genetic and clinical prognostic factor for the aggressive growth of gastrinomas.” (Source: Cancer 2004;100:1379-1387: Reuters Health: Oncolink: April 2004)
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