Distinguishing melanocytic nevi from melanoma by DNA copy number changes: comparative genomic hybridization as a research and diagnostic tool

Authors: Bauer, Jürgen; Bastian, BorisC.

Source: Dermatologic Therapy, Volume 19, Number 1, January 2006 , pp. 40-49(10)

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Abstract:

Cancer typically results in loosened control over genomic integrity, resulting in alterations of the genome of cancer cells. Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a method that can be used on DNA extracted from routinely fixed tissue to assess the entire genome for the presence of changes in DNA copy number. CGH analysis has revealed that melanoma differs from melanocytic nevi by the presence of frequent chromosomal aberrations. In contrast, melanocytic nevi typically show no chromosomal aberrations, or have a restricted set of alterations with basically no overlap to melanoma. These marked differences between aberration patterns in melanomas and melanocytic nevi can be exploited diagnostically to classify melanocytic tumors that are ambiguous based on histopathologic assessment. In addition to potential diagnostic applications, detailed analyses of recurrent aberrations can lead to the identification of genes relevant in melanocytic neoplasia.

Keywords: classification; comparative genomic hybridization; copy number changes; melanocytic nevi; melanoma

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8019.2005.00055.x

Affiliations: 1: Departments of Dermatology and Pathology and the University of California at San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer, University of California at San Francisco, and

Publication date: 2006-01-01