Comparative genomic hybridization in ganglioneuroblastomas

The ganglioneuroblastoma are rare lesions with widespread neuronal differentiation that have been classified as intermediate stages between neuroblastoma and ganglioneuroma. To identify overall chromosome aberrations in ganglioneuroblastoma, we performed comparative genomic hybridization. All of the five tumor samples were found to exhibit multiple gains involving different chromosomal regions. Chromosomal gains displayed by chromosomes and chromosome loci were 2p25∼pter (60%), 5p15.1∼p15.3 (60%), 7 (60%), 13q22∼q31 (60%), and 22 (60%), which were detected as minimal common regions in all five tumor samples. Chromosome 22 gain, which had not been reported in neuronal tumors before, and novel site 13q22∼q31 may be considered to play an important role in progression and differentiation of ganglioneuroblastoma.