Low-level copy number changes of MYC genes have a prognostic impact in medulloblastoma.

High-level amplifications of MYC genes are associated with poor outcomes in childhood medulloblastoma (MB). However, the occurrence of MYCN and MYCC copy number increases below the intense amplification pattern is rarely reported, and its clinical impact has not yet been determined. Here, we describe this phenomenon and its prognostic significance in a cohort of 29 MB patients.

Characterization of a GM7 glioblastoma cell line showing CD133 positivity and both cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of nestin.

A newly established GM7 cell line was derived from the tumor tissue of a 65-year-old man surgically treated for a relapse of glioblastoma multiforme that occurred 10 months after first surgery following radiotherapy. GM7 cells exhibit spindle or glia-like morphology, and multinucleated giant cells are also present in the culture. The cells proliferate rapidly (PDT is about 18 h) and tend to grow in multilayer without contact inhibition.

Screening of genomic imbalances in glioblastoma multiforme using high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a molecular cytogenetic technique that allows the genome-wide analysis of DNA sequence copy number differences. We applied conventional CGH and the recently developed high-resolution CGH (HR-CGH) to tumour samples from 18 patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in order to compare the sensitivity of CGH and HR-CGH in the screening of chromosomal abnormalities. The abnormalities were studied in topologically different central and peripheral tumour parts.