Gains of 8q23-qter and 20q and loss of 11q22-qter in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma associated with lymph node metastasis

BACKGROUND: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is associated with poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis is one of the critical prognostic factors. Although it is important to elucidate the genetic aberrations underlying its lymph node metastasis, to the authors' knowledge little is known regarding alterations in the primary ESCC that are linked with ESCC metastasis to the lymph nodes. METHODS: To elucidate genetic aberrations involved in the lymph node metastasis of ESCC, comparative genomic hybridization analysis was applied to 36 ESCC specimens, from 12 cases with no lymph node metastasis and 24 cases with lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Copy number gains frequently were detected at 3q (75%), 8q23-qter (50%), 11q13 (44%), 5p14-pter (25%), 20q (25%), 7q (22%), 2p (19%), 12p (17%), and 20p (17%) and losses were detected at 18q (58%), 3p (50%), 9p (44%), 5q14-23 (39%), 4q (33%), 13q (22%), and 11q22-qter (19%). DNA amplifications were detected at four loci: 11q13, 2q12, 7q21, and 20q11.2 It is interesting to note that the gains of 8q23-qter (P < 0.0005) and 20q (P < 0.02) and loss of 11q22-qter (P < 0.05) were observed in tumors metastatic to the lymph nodes. The gains of 3q and 11q13 and losses of 18q, 3p, 9p, 5q14-23, and 4q were detected in both early and advanced stage ESCCs. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that gains of 8q23-qter and 20q and loss of 11q22-qter allow the prediction of lymph node metastasis, and that gains of 3q and 11q13 and losses of 18q, 3p, 9p, 5q14-23, and 4q are associated with the development of ESCC.