Identification of and amplification in gastric cancer by comprehensive genomic profiling of gastric cancer cell lines.

Aim: To identify common copy number alterations on gastric cancer cell lines.

Methods: Four gastric cancer cell lines (ACP02, ACP03, AGP01 and PG100) underwent chromosomal comparative genome hybridization and array comparative genome hybridization. We also confirmed the results by fluorescence hybridization analysis using the bacterial artificial chromosome clone and quantitative real time PCR analysis.

Results: The amplification of 9p13.3 was detected in all cell lines by both methodologies. An increase in the copy number of 9p13.3 was also confirmed by fluorescence hybridization analysis. Moreover, the interleukin 11 receptor alpha () and maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase () genes, which are present in the 9p13.3 amplicon, revealed gains of the gene in all the cell lines studied. Additionally, a gain in the copy number of and was observed in 19.1% (13/68) and 55.9% (38/68) of primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples, respectively.

Conclusion: The characterization of a small gain region at 9p13.3 in gastric cancer cell lines and primary gastric adenocarcinoma samples has revealed as a candidate target gene that is possibly related to the development of gastric cancer.