Identification of genomic copy number variations associated with specific clinical features of head and neck cancer.

Background: Copy number variations (CNSs) of large genomic regions are an important mechanism implicated in the development of head and neck cancer, however, for most changes their exact role is not well understood. The aim of this study was to find possible associations between gains/losses of genomic regions and clinically distinct subgroups of head and neck cancer patients.

Results: Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) analysis was performed on DNA samples in 64 patients with cancer in oral cavity, oropharynx or hypopharynx.

TMPRSS2:ERG gene aberrations may provide insight into pT stage in prostate cancer.

Background: TMPRSS2:ERG gene aberration may be a novel marker that improves risk stratification of prostate cancer before definitive cancer therapy, but studies have been inconclusive.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of 202 operable prostate cancer Slovenian patients who underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. We retrospectively constructed tissue microarrays of their prostatic specimens for fluorescence in situ hybridization, with appropriate signals obtained in 148 patients for subsequent statistical analyses.

Specific behavioural phenotype and secondary cognitive decline as a result of an 8.6 Mb deletion of 2q32.2q33.1.

Chromosomal abnormalities involving 2q32q33 deletions are very rare and present with a specific phenotype. This case report describes a 37-year-old female patient with 2q32q33 microdeletion syndrome presenting with the characteristic features, but with the addition of secondary cognitive decline. Molecular karyotyping was performed on the patient and her parents.

The association of the JAK2 46/1 haplotype with non-splanchnic venous thrombosis.

Background: The inherited JAK2 46/1 haplotype is strongly associated with the development of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), and its increased frequency has also been reported in splanchnic venous thrombosis (SVT). In the present study, the role of the JAK2 46/1 haplotype in non-splanchnic venous thrombosis (non-SVT) was investigated.

Methods And Results: We genotyped 438 patients with non-SVT, 226 patients with MPNs and 459 healthy controls for three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which tag the JAK2 46/1 haplotype (rs12342421 G>C, rs12343867 T>C and rs10974944 C>G).