Abstract 1781: Use of SNP arrays to assess loss of heterozygosity in gliomas
Authors: Tsiatis Athanasios C. , Hafez Michael J. , Jedlicka Anne E. , Maitra Anirban , Murphy Kathleen M. , Eshleman James R. 
Published: February 2011

Introduction: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome arms 1p and 19q in gliomas has diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications. The deletion of 1p and the codeletion of chromosome arms 1p and 19q correlate with the diagnosis of oligodendroglioma, increased chemosensitivity and improved prognosis. Clinically, LOH is most frequently determined by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and short tandem repeat (STR) analysis. Each approach suffers from the limitation that the probes/primers interrogate only a small portion of the chromosomes. Small deletions can be misinterpreted as LOH of the entire chromosome arm. We have investigated the use of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array for identifying LOH in gliomas.

Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 5 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples following microdissection, and from peripheral blood. Samples were run on an ABI 3100 following multiplex PCR amplification of 5 STRs on chromosome 1p (D1S199, D1S186, D1S162, D1S312, D1S226) and 3 STRs on chromosome 19q (D19S918, D19S112, D19S206). Array analysis was performed using the Affymetrix genome-wide human SNP array 6.0 platform (906,600 SNPs) according to protocol. Data were analyzed with Partek Genomics Suite.

Results: Cases 1 and 4 showed no LOH on chromosomes 1p and 19q by STR analysis and SNP array. Cases 2 and 5 showed LOH on chromosomes 1p and 19q by STR analysis and SNP array. Case 3 showed partial centromeric LOH on chromosome 1p by STR analysis which was confirmed by SNP array. Case 1 was a 48 year old male with anaplastic mixed oligoastrocytoma. Additional SNP array findings included a deletion of chromosome arm 13q. Case 4 was a 31 year old female with a low grade glioneural tumor, and no additional findings were made by SNP array. Case 2 was a 47 year old female with anaplastic oligodendroglioma. Additional SNP array findings included losses on chromosomes 5, 6, 9,15, and whole gain of chromosome 11. Case 5 was a 12 year old male with anaplastic oligodendroglioma. SNP array found additional losses on chromosomes 2, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10, and 20. Case 3 was a 47 year old female with an astrocytoma. Analysis of the 3 most centromeric STR loci on 1p demonstrated allelic imbalance that was consistent with LOH. The 2 most telomeric STR loci demonstrated allele ratios consistent with heterozygosity (negative for LOH). SNP array confirmed partial centromeric LOH on 1p and identified losses on chromosomes 2, 6, 10, 13, 16, and 22.

Conclusion: Analysis of LOH on chromosome arms 1p and 19q by STR analysis and SNP array were concordant. SNP array identified additional gains or losses in each sample that were not detected by the STR assay. Interestingly, SNP array analysis also identified LOH on chromosome 13q, which contains the BRCA2 gene locus, in cases 1 and 3. If a second-hit can be identified, this may present a novel approach for identifying glioma patients who may potentially benefit from Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase (PARP) inhibitor therapy.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1781.