Analysis of somatic copy number alterations in biliary tract carcinoma using a single nucleotide polymorphism array.

Aim: Biliary tract carcinoma (BTC), including gall bladder carcinoma (GBC) and biliary duct carcinoma (BDC), has a poor prognosis. Comprehensive genomic profiling has important roles in evaluation of the carcinogenesis of BTC.

Materials & Methods: We examined somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) using a single nucleotide polymorphism array system to analyze 36 BTC samples (11 GBCs and 25 BDCs).

Results: In hierarchical cluster analysis, two clusters were identified (subgroup 1 with low SCNAs and subgroup 2 with high SCNAs). GBC was predominant in subgroup 1, whereas BDC was predominant in subgroup 2, suggesting that GBC and BDC had different genetic backgrounds in terms of SCNAs.

Conclusion: These findings could be helpful for establishing the molecular carcinogenesis of BTCs.