Correlation of comparative genomic hybridization results of 100 archival uveal melanomas with patient survival

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) was used to elucidate DNA sequence copy number imbalances in 100 archival formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) uveal melanoma cases. Of these 100 cases, 51 were from patients who survived >or=9 years post diagnosis without evidence of metastasis; the remaining 49 patients died from metastatic disease. Viable probe was generated from 82 of the 100 cases, allowing correlation of CGH findings with survival for all but 18 cases. Copy number imbalances revealed by CGH were tested for univariate prognostic significance. The most powerful predictor of a poor prognosis was gain of 18q11.2, which was subsequently compared with other significant chromosomal regions, as well as histologic and clinical factors, in a multivariate analysis. There was also evidence of differential X chromosome involvement in the survival correlations between male and female cases, which may be of significance to prognosis. This large-scale CGH analysis of archival material is intended to direct further gene-specific study of malignancy in uveal melanoma.