BMC Cancer 2007, 7:226 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/7/226 Losses: 3p (up to 43.1%), 14q (up to 26.2%), 6q (21%), 1p (up to 20%), 9 (20%), 8p (19.5%), 13q (19.5%), 17p (19%), 18q (18%), 2, 4, 10 Gains of 5q are a rare occurrence in other carcinomas, and have been identified in papillary as well as non-papillary cases [65]. An overview of accumulated karyotype data was given in 2004 [66], proposing different cytogenetic pathways and associating papillary RCC with a hyperdip- loid karyotype pattern. Nasopharynx carcinoma (NPC; 177 cases) Gains: 12p (up to 33.9%), 1q (24.3%), 3q (22%), 8q22q23 (19.5%), 18p (17%), 11q13 (12.4%), 2(q), 4(q), 6(q), 17q Losses: 16q (29.9%), 14q24 (27.7%), 11q23 (24.3%), 1pter (23.7%; difficult region), 9, 13q31, 17p, 19p In contrast to some other carcinoma entities, the maxi- mum of gains mapped clearly proximal to the c-myc region. A meta-analysis of CGH data in NPC was recently provided by Li et al. [67]. In concordance with the low number of NPC cases with 8p deletion, the oncogeneti- cally relevant DLC1 on 8p22 has been reported to be inac- tivated by methylation rather than copy number change [68]. Bladder carcinoma (169 cases) Gains: 20q (21.3%), 8q (20.7%), 17q (20.7%), 11q13 (19.5%), 1q21 (17.8%), 5p, 6p, 7, 10p Losses: 9 (26%), 13q21 (17.8%), 4q (up to 14.2%), 11p (14.2%), 5q (14.6%), 2q32, 8p, 6q, 18q, X, 17p While some of the imbalances (e.g. 8q, 17q and 20q gain, 11q13 gain/amplification) were frequent in other entities, losses on chromosome 9 were exceptionally high in tran- sitional cell carcinoma (115 cases). In contrast to other squamous cell carcinomas, gains on 3q were rare (3 of 40 bladder SCC). In one study included in the data, some dif- ferences between histological and etiological subtypes of bladder carcinomas were presented [69]. Neuroendocrine carcinoma and carcinoid (138 cases) Gains: 19 (26.1%), 20 (up to 18.1%), 17q (up to 17.4%), 5p (15.9%) Losses: 11q22q25 (20.3%), 13q21 (18.1%), 3p (up to 15.5%), 6q22 (13%), 10q25q26 (13%) Possibly due to the heterogeneity of this group, a diffuse background of whole chromosome gains was observed. The genetics of neuroendocrine tumors was recently reviewed with consideration for inherited syndromes as well as molecular cytogenetic results [70]. Malignant melanocytic neoplasias (99 cases) Gains: 8q(21) (36.3%), 6p (32.3%), 1q (22%), 7, 20q, 11q13 Losses: 6q(24) (29.3%), 10 (q22) (22.2%), 3 (up to 21.2%), 9p (21.2%), 13q, 1p, 11q23q24 In contrast to most epithelial malignancies, gains on 6p can be found in a large proportion of malignant melano- mas. Above background losses on 10q are found in few other entities, too. Similar to other entities gains on 8q, 1q, 20q and chromosome 7 can be observed. A compre- hensive overview about molecular-cytogenetic techniques in the analysis of melanocytic lesions was given by Bauer and Bastian [71]. Pancreas adenocarinoma (88 cases) Gains: 20q (up to 30.7%), 8q(23) (26.2%), 17q (up to 21.6%), 12p11 (19.3%), 7p (18.2%), 3q (up to 17.1%), 5p, 11(q13), 14, 15qter, 16, 19q Losses: 18q (35.2%), 9p(23) (29.6%), 13q (18.2%), 3p (up to 17.1%), 6q(21) (17.1%), 8p (17.1%), 17p13 (15.9%), 4, 15q, 10q, 12q This subset only includes pancreas adenoocarcinomas, omitting endocrine tumors. High level copy number amplifications have been shown e.g. for ERBB2 (17q12) and EGFR (7p12). Interestingly, the maximum for gains on 8q (8q22) is proximal to the c- myc region. This fact was also mentioned in a recent over- view of genomic screening results in pancreas ca. [72]. Cholangio-carcinomas (intra- and extrahepatic; 63 cases) Gains: 8q22 (42.9%), 17q (up to 39.7%), 20q (34.9%), 11q13 (23.8%), 15q (up to 23.8%), 3q(26) (20.7%), 7p (up to 20.7%), 13q (up to 20.7%), 5p (up to 19.1%), 1q, 6p, 12q23q24 Losses: 1p34p36 (up to 22.2%), 4q (up to 20.6%), 17p (19.1%), 5q(14), 6q, 13q, 18qter, X Gains on 15q were reported in up to 36% (in a study of Korean intrahepatic cholangio-ca. [73]), but rarely seen in other entities. Small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC; 63 cases) Gains: 19 (up to 44.4%), 3q (up to 41.3%), 17q23 (41.3%), 1p31p34 (38.2%), 8q(23) (36.5%), 20q (up to 30.2%), 14q31q32 (26%), 1q (up to 25.4%), 9q31q34, 6p, 13q32 Page 7 of 15 (page number not for citation purposes)