Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

O P Kallioniemi

Publications and source records attributed to O P Kallioniemi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Gene-expression profiles in hereditary breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Many cases of hereditary breast cancer are due to mutations in either the BRCA1 or the BRCA2 gene. The histopathological changes in these cancers are often characteristic of the mutant gene. We hypothesized that the genes expressed by these two types of tumors are also distinctive, perhaps allowing us to identify cases of hereditary breast cancer on the basis of gene-expression profiles. METHODS: RNA from samples of primary tumor from seven carriers of the BRCA1 mutation, seven carriers of the BRCA2 mutation, and seven patients with sporadic cases of breast cancer was compared with a microarray of 6512 complementary DNA clones of 5361 genes. Statistical analyses were used to identify a set of genes that could distinguish the BRCA1 genotype from the BRCA2 genotype. RESULTS: Permutation analysis of multivariate classification functions established that the gene-expression profiles of tumors with BRCA1 mutations, tumors with BRCA2 mutations, and sporadic tumors differed significantly from each other. An analysis of variance between the levels of gene expression and the genotype of the samples identified 176 genes that were differentially expressed in tumors with BRCA1 mutations and tumors with BRCA2 mutations. Given the known properties of some of the genes in this panel, our findings indicate that there are functional differences between breast tumors with BRCA1 mutations and those with BRCA2 mutations. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly different groups of genes are expressed by breast cancers with BRCA1 mutations and breast cancers with BRCA2 mutations. Our results suggest that a heritable mutation influences the gene-expression profile of the cancer.

Algorithms↗

Genetic changes in familial prostate cancer by comparative genomic hybridization.

BACKGROUND: Germline mutations in recessive cancer predisposition genes are uncovered by somatic genetic deletions during tumor development. Analysis of genetic changes in tumor tissues from patients with an inherited predisposition may therefore highlight regions of the genome containing susceptibility or modifier genes. Our aim was to characterize genetic changes in familial prostate cancer METHODS: Twenty-one primary prostate cancers from 19 Finnish prostate cancer families were analyzed for somatic genetic changes by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). RESULTS: The average number of genetic alterations per tumor was 4.0 +/- 1.9, distributed equally among losses and gains. The most common losses were found at chromosomal regions 13q14-q22 (29%), 8p12-pter (24%), and 6q13-q16 (14%), and the most common gains at 19p (25%), 19q (14%) and 7q (14%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that prostate cancers in genetically predisposed individuals arise for the most part through similar somatic genetic progression pathways as sporadic prostate cancers. This also implies that the biological properties of tumors from the two groups may not be different from one another.

Aged↗

Germline TP53 alterations in Finnish breast cancer families are rare and occur at conserved mutation-prone sites.

We have screened for germline TP53 mutations in Finnish BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation-negative families. This study represents the largest survey of the entire protein-encoding portion of TP53, and indicates that mutations are only found at conserved domains in breast cancer families also meeting the criteria for Li-Fraumeni/Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome, explaining only a very small additional fraction of the hereditary breast cancer cases.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Tissue microarrays: what will they bring to molecular and anatomic pathology?

The analysis of a large number of tumor tissues with conventional techniques of molecular pathology is tedious and slow. The authors recently developed the tissue microarray technology that makes it possible to sample up to 1,000 tumors on one glass slide, which then can be analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, RNA in situ hybridization, or immunohistochemistry. The tissue microarray technology has the potential to significantly accelerate molecular studies that seek associations between molecular changes and clinicopathologic features of the cancer. Examples of potential applications for tissue microarrays include testing and optimization of probes and antibodies, the organization of large tissue repositories, and the facilitation of multicenter studies. Further, tissue microarrays can be used for educational purposes as well as to improve quality control and standardization of staining methods and interpretation. Tissue microarrays have become one of the most promising tools for the molecular and anatomic pathologist and will have many applications in cancer research, as well as in other fields of pathology. This review article gives an overview of current applications of tissue microarrays as well as possible future development of the technology.

Female↗

Identification of differentially expressed genes in human gliomas by DNA microarray and tissue chip techniques.

New genomic large-scale screening techniques have made the task of establishing an accurate molecular fingerprint of cancer cells feasible. Here, we have used a two-phase strategy for identification of molecular alterations in gliomas. First, cDNA microarrays (Clontech Laboratories, Inc., Research Genetics) were used to pinpoint differentially expressed genes between normal brain and diffuse astrocytomas (grades II-IV), and between a primary tumor and a later tumor reoccurrence in the same patient. More than 200 gene expression alterations were detected from glioblastomas, whereas relatively few changes were seen in grade II and grade III tumors. The most distinct progression-related expression change was the up-regulation of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) gene. Second, a high-density tissue microarray of 418 brain tumors was constructed and used for clinical validation of gene expression changes. Strong expression of IGFBP2 was associated with progression and poor patient survival in diffuse astrocytomas (P < 0.0001). Third, comparisons of the data between (a) multiple spots retrieved from one predefined tumor region (IGFBP2 and vimentin immunohistochemistry, 20 tumors) or between (b) standard slides and arrayed tissues (p53 immunohistochemistry, 42 tumors) revealed very little variation. In conclusion, the combined use of DNA microarrays and tissue microarrays offers a powerful strategy for rapid identification and thorough characterization of differentially expressed genes in gliomas.

Astrocytoma↗

Two percent of Finnish prostate cancer patients have a germ-line mutation in the hormone-binding domain of the androgen receptor gene.

Mutations of the androgen receptor (AR) gene have been reported in prostate cancer, usually from tumor tissue specimens from late-stage, androgen-independent cancer. Occasionally, germ-line mutations have been found, but a link between AR mutations and predisposition to human prostate cancer has not been firmly established. Recently, two independent studies reported the same germ-line mutation at codon 726 in exon E (CGC to CTC) in two apparently unrelated Finnish prostate cancer patients. This arginine to leucine substitution was reported to alter the transactivational specificity of the AR protein. In the present study, the R726L mutation was analyzed by allele-specific oligohybridization in DNA specimens from 418 consecutive prostate cancer patients who reported a negative family history (sporadic group) and from 106 patients with a positive family history (hereditary group). The population frequency of the R726L mutation in blood donors was 3 of 900 (0.33%). In contrast, eight (1.91%) mutations (odds ratio = 5.8; P = 0.006) were found in the sporadic group, and two (1.89%) mutations were found in the hereditary group (odds ratio = 5.8; P = 0.09). Suggestive evidence of the segregation of the mutation with prostate cancer was seen in these two families. The present study indicates that the R726L substitution in the AR may confer an up to 6-fold increased risk of prostate cancer and may contribute to cancer development in up to 2% of Finnish prostate cancer patients. These results warrant additional large-scale studies of the significance of rare mutations and polymorphisms in candidate genes along the androgen signaling pathway as risk factors for prostate cancer.

Binding Sites↗

Construction of evolutionary tree models for renal cell carcinoma from comparative genomic hybridization data.

Renal cell carcinoma is characterized by an accumulation of complex chromosomal alterations during tumor progression. Chromosome 3p deletions are known to occur early in the carcinogenesis, but the nature of subsequent events, their interrelationships, and their sequence is poorly understood, as one usually only obtains a single "view" of the dynamic process of tumor development in a particular cancer patient. To address this limitation, we used comparative genomic hybridization analysis in combination with a distance-based and a branching-tree method to search for tree models of the oncogenesis process of 116 conventional (clear cell) renal carcinomas. This provides a means to analyze and model cancer development processes based on a more dynamic model, including the presence of multiple pathways, as compared with the fixed linear model first proposed by Vogelstein et al. (N. Engl. J. Med., 319: 525-532, 1988) for colorectal cancer. The most common DNA losses involved 3p (61%), 4q (50%), 6q (40%), 9p (35%), 13q (37%), and Xq (21%). The most common gains were seen at chromosome 17p and 17q (20%). The tree model derived from the distance-based method is consistent with the established theory that -3p is an important early event in conventional (clear cell) renal cancer and supports the prediction made from the branching tree that -4q is another important early event. Both tree models suggest that there may be two groups of clear cell renal cancers: one characterized by -6q, +17q, and + 17p, and another by -9p, -13q, and -18q. Putative prognostic parameters were -9p and -13q. The distance-based tree clarifies that -8p (present in 12% of tumors) is a late event, largely independent of other events. In summary, tree modeling of comparative genomic hybridization data provided new information on the interrelationships of genetic changes in renal cancer and their possible order, as well as a clustering of these events. Using tree analysis, one can derive a more in-depth understanding of the renal cancer development process than is possible by simply focusing on the frequencies of genetic events in a given cancer type.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell↗

Loss of NKX3.1 expression in human prostate cancers correlates with tumor progression.

NKX3.1 is a prostate-specific homeobox gene located on chromosome 8p21. In the mouse, Nkx3.1 has growth-suppressive and differentiating effects on prostatic epithelium. Mutations of the coding region of NKX3.1 were not found in human prostate cancer, failing to support the notion that NKX3.1 was a tumor suppressor gene. To study the expression o NKX3.1 protein in human tissues and prostate cancer, we derived a rabbit antiserum against purified recombinant NKX3.1. Among normal human tissues, NKX3.1 expression was seen in testis, in rare pulmonary mucous glands, and in isolated regions of transitional epithelium of the ureter. NKX3.1 was uniformly expressed in nuclei of normal prostate epithelial cells in 61 histological sections from radical prostatectomy specimens. We analyzed 507 samples of neoplastic prostate epithelium, most of which were contained on a tissue microarray that contained samples from different stages of prostatic neoplasia. We observed complete loss of NKX3.1 expression in 5% of benign prostatic hyperplasias, 20% of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasias, 6% of T1a/b samples, 22% of T3/4 samples, 34% of hormone-refractory prostate cancers, and 78% of metastases. Our data show that NKX3.1 expression is highly, but not exclusively, specific for the prostate. Loss of NKX3.1 expression is strongly associated with hormone-refractory disease and advanced tumor stage in prostate cancer (P < 0.0001).

Animals↗

Nationwide cancer family ascertainment using Finnish Cancer Registry data on family names and places of birth for 35,761 prostate cancer patients.

Identification of predisposition loci to complex diseases, such as prostate cancer, requires high-quality family material, the ascertainment of which is often laborious, time-consuming and inaccurate with conventional methods. Here, we describe a new method for rapid, nationwide cancer family ascertainment using Finnish Cancer Registry data on 35,761 prostate cancer cases over a 40-year period. As members of a prostate cancer family are likely to share the same family name and place of birth, we stratified all prostate cancer cases by these 2 parameters (10,721 different names and 596 municipalities). Data were compared with the distribution of family names and places of birth for all 3.3 million Finnish men to derive standardized prevalence ratios (SPRs). A significantly elevated SPR of prostate cancer was detected for 468 (1.6%) of the 28,459 evaluable combinations of family name and place of birth. Of the 20 highest SPR values, 19 corresponded to true nuclear families, most of these having 3 or more affected cases. Two-thirds of our 50 previously established Finnish prostate cancer families were classified among this 1.6% fraction of the highest SPR values. Finally, many of the highest SPR values originated from municipalities in southern and south-western Finland. To explore whether such clusters could highlight local founder effects, we applied genealogical research to link together several families with elevated SPRs and identified an extended family with 20 prostate cancer cases with common ancestors in the early seventeenth century. In summary, a rapid novel method was developed and validated for identification of prostate cancer families from nationwide cancer registry data and for the identification of putative regional founder effects.

Cohort Studies↗

Somatic deletions in hereditary breast cancers implicate 13q21 as a putative novel breast cancer susceptibility locus.

A significant proportion of familial breast cancers cannot be explained by mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. We applied a strategy to identify predisposition loci for breast cancer by using mathematical models to identify early somatic genetic deletions in tumor tissues followed by targeted linkage analysis. Comparative genomic hybridization was used to study 61 breast tumors from 37 breast cancer families with no identified BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Branching and phylogenetic tree models predicted that loss of 13q was one of the earliest genetic events in hereditary cancers. In a Swedish family with five breast cancer cases, all analyzed tumors showed distinct 13q deletions, with the minimal region of loss at 13q21-q22. Genotyping revealed segregation of a shared 13q21 germ-line haplotype in the family. Targeted linkage analysis was carried out in a set of 77 Finnish, Icelandic, and Swedish breast cancer families with no detected BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations. A maximum parametric two-point logarithm of odds score of 2.76 was obtained for a marker at 13q21 (D13S1308, theta = 0.10). The multipoint logarithm of odds score under heterogeneity was 3.46. The results were further evaluated by simulation to assess the probability of obtaining significant evidence in favor of linkage by chance as well as to take into account the possible influence of the BRCA2 locus, located at a recombination fraction of 0.25 from the new locus. The simulation substantiated the evidence of linkage at D13S1308 (P < 0.0017). The results warrant studies of this putative breast cancer predisposition locus in other populations.

Aged↗

Comparative genomic hybridization analysis of 38 breast cancer cell lines: a basis for interpreting complementary DNA microarray data.

Breast cancer cell lines provide a useful starting point for the discovery and functional analysis of genes involved in breast cancer. Here, we studied 38 established breast cancer cell lines by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to determine recurrent genetic alterations and the extent to which these cell lines resemble uncultured tumors. The following chromosomal gains were observed: 8q (75%), 1q (61%), 20q (55%), 7p (44%), 3q (39%), 5p (39%), 7q (39%), 17q (33%), 1p (30%), and 20p (30%), and the most common losses were: 8p (58%), 18q (58%), 1p (42%), Xp (42%), Xq (42%), 4p (36%), 11q (36%), 18p (33%), 10q (30%), and 19p (28%). Furthermore, 35 recurrent high-level amplification sites were identified, most often involving 8q23 (37%), 20q13 (29%), 3q25-q26 (24%), 17q22-q23 (16%), 17q23-q24 (16%), 1p13 (11%), 1q32 (11%), 5p13 (11%), 5p14 (11%), 11q13 (11%), 17q12-q21 (11%), and 7q21-q22 (11%). A comparison of DNA copy number changes found in the cell lines with those reported in 17 published studies (698 tumors) of uncultured tumors revealed a substantial degree of overlap. CGH copy number profiles may facilitate identification of important new genes located at the hotspots of such chromosomal alterations. This was illustrated by analyzing expression levels of 1236 genes using cDNA microarrays in four of the cell lines. Several highly overexpressed genes (such as RCH1 at 17q23, TOPO II at 17q21-q22, as well as CAS and MYBL2 at 20q13) were involved in these recurrent DNA amplifications. In conclusion, DNA copy number profiles were generated by CGH for most of the publicly available breast cancer cell lines and were made available on a web site (http://www.nhgri.nih.gov/DIR/CGB/++ +CR2000). This should facilitate the correlative analysis of gene expression and copy number as illustrated here by the finding by cDNA microarrays of several overexpressed genes that were amplified.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Detecting activation of ribosomal protein S6 kinase by complementary DNA and tissue microarray analysis.

BACKGROUND: Studies by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) have shown that chromosomal region 17q23 is amplified in up to 20% of primary breast cancers. We used microarray analyses to measure the expression levels of genes in this region and to explore their prognostic importance. METHODS: A microarray that contained 4209 complementary DNA (cDNA) clones was used to identify genes that are overexpressed in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line as compared with normal mammary tissue. Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to analyze the copy number of one overexpressed gene, ribosomal protein S6 kinase (S6K), and to localize it to the 17q23 region. Northern and western blot analyses were used to measure S6K gene and protein expression, and an enzymatic assay was used to measure S6K activity. Tumor tissue microarray analysis was used to study amplification of S6K and the HER-2 oncogene, another 17q-linked gene, and the relationship between amplification and prognosis was analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for data analysis, and the log-rank test was used for statistical analysis. All P values are two-sided. RESULTS: S6K was amplified and highly overexpressed in MCF-7 cells relative to normal mammary epithelium, and protein expression and enzyme activity were increased. S6K was amplified in 59 (8.8%) of 668 primary breast tumors, and a statistically significant association between amplification and poor prognosis (P =.0021) was observed. Amplification of both S6K and HER-2 implied particularly poor survival (P =.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of CGH information with cDNA and tissue microarray analyses can be used to identify amplified and overexpressed genes and to evaluate the clinical implications of such genes and genomic rearrangements. S6K is likely to be one of the genes at 17q23 that is amplified during oncogenesis and may adversely affect the prognosis of patients with this amplification.

Blotting, Northern↗

High-throughput tissue microarray analysis of cyclin E gene amplification and overexpression in urinary bladder cancer.

Studies by comparative genomic hybridization revealed that the 19q13 chromosomal region is frequently amplified in bladder cancer. The cyclin E gene (CCNE), coding for a regulatory subunit of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, has been mapped to 19q13. To investigate the role of cyclin E alterations in bladder cancer, a tissue microarray of 2,317 specimens from 1,842 bladder cancer patients was constructed and analyzed for CCNE amplification by fluorescence in situ hybridization and for cyclin-E protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis showed amplification in only 30 of the 1,561 evaluable tumors (1.9%). Amplification was significantly associated with stage and grade (P: < 0.0005 each). Immunohistochemically detectable cyclin E expression was strong in 233 (12.4%), weak in 354 (18.9%), and negative in 1, 286 of the 1,873 interpretable tumors. The majority (62.1%) of CCNE-amplified tumors were strongly immunohistochemistry-positive (P: < 0.0001). The frequency of protein expression increased from stage pTa (22.2%) to pT1 (45.5%; P: < 0.0001) but then decreased for stage pT2-4 (29.4%; P: < 0.0001 for pT1 versus pT2-4). Low cyclin E expression was associated with poor overall survival in all patients (P: < 0.0001), but had no prognostic impact independent of stage. It is concluded that cyclin E overexpression is characteristic to a subset of bladder carcinomas, especially at the stage of early invasion. This analysis of the prognostic impact of CCNE gene amplification and protein expression in >1,500 arrayed bladder cancers was accomplished in a period of 2 weeks, illustrating how the tissue microarray technology remarkably facilitates the evaluation of the clinical relevance of molecular alterations in cancer.

Adult↗

Novel findings in gene expression detected in human osteosarcoma by cDNA microarray.

cDNA microarray analysis was used to screen for gene expression alterations in human osteosarcoma cell lines. The analysis using three cell lines revealed changes in the expression of several genes in comparison with normal human osteoblasts. Among the 5,184 sequences that were analyzed, 35 showed aberrant expression in all the cell lines. Eight of these showed overexpression and 27 underexpression compared to their expression levels in osteoblasts. The most highly up-regulated genes included heat shock protein 90beta and polyadenylate-binding protein-like 1. Commonly down-regulated genes included fibronectin 1 and thrombospondin 1. RT-PCR was used to verify these changes in the cell lines and in three primary osteosarcoma samples. This study shows that (1) gene expression pattern in osteosarcoma cell lines differs considerably from normal osteoblasts, (2) osteosarcoma cell lines can be used as a model system to detect novel gene expression alterations present in primary tumors, (3) the overexpression of heat shock protein 90beta and polyadenylate-binding protein-like 1, and (4) the down-regulation of fibronectin 1 and thrombospondin 1 may play a role in the development and/or progression of osteosarcoma. This study indicates that microarray-based expression surveys may be used to establish the molecular fingerprint of osteosarcoma, however, larger cDNA chips and more tumor specimens are required to define the clinically relevant gene expression patterns.

DNA, Complementary↗

Multiple founder effects and geographical clustering of BRCA1 and BRCA2 families in Finland.

In the Finnish breast and ovarian cancer families six BRCA1 and five BRCA2 mutations have been found recurrently. Some of these recurrent mutations have also been seen elsewhere in the world, while others are exclusively of Finnish origin. A haplotype analysis of 26 Finnish families carrying a BRCA1 mutation and 20 families with a BRCA2 mutation indicated that the carriers of each recurrent mutation have common ancestors. The common ancestors were estimated to trace back to 7-36 generations (150-800 years). The time estimates and the geographical clustering of these founder mutations in Finland are in concordance with the population history of this country. Analysis of the cancer phenotypes showed differential ovarian cancer expression in families carrying mutations in the 5' and 3' ends of the BRCA1 gene, and earlier age of ovarian cancer onset in families with BRCA1 mutations compared with families with BRCA2 mutations. The identification of prominent and regional BRCA1 and BRCA2 founder mutations in Finland will have significant impact on diagnostics in Finnish breast and ovarian cancer families. An isolated population with known history and multiple local founder effects in multigenic disease may offer distinct advantages also for mapping novel predisposing genes.

Adult↗

Androgen receptor gene amplification at primary progression predicts response to combined androgen blockade as second line therapy for advanced prostate cancer.

PURPOSE: Amplification of the androgen receptor gene has been found in a third of hormone refractory prostate carcinomas. It is possible that amplification facilitates cell growth ability in low concentrations of androgens remaining in the serum after androgen deprivation therapy. We evaluate whether androgen receptor gene amplification at primary progression is associated with response to second line combined androgen blockade for prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 77 patients with prostate cancer were treated initially with androgen deprivation monotherapy followed by combined androgen blockade after the first progression. After initiation of second line combined androgen blockade patients were followed every 3 months to evaluate treatment responses. Biopsies were taken from the prostate at the first progression under endocrine monotherapy. Androgen receptor gene copy number was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. RESULTS: Androgen receptor gene amplification was found in 10 of the 77 cases (13%) at the primary disease progression, and was associated with a favorable response to second line combined androgen blockade. Only 1 of 34 (3%) patients classified as nonresponders had androgen receptor gene amplification, whereas 9 of 41 (21%) classified as having either stable disease or response had amplification (p = 0.016). Patients with androgen receptor gene amplification also had a decrease in prostate specific antigen more often after combined androgen blockade than those with no amplification (p = 0.079). However, androgen receptor gene amplification was not associated with patient survival after the first progression. CONCLUSIONS: Androgen receptor gene amplification detected in tumors progressing during androgen deprivation monotherapy is associated with favorable treatment response to second line combined androgen blockade. This finding suggests that at least some androgen receptor amplified tumors retain a high degree of dependency on residual androgens remaining in serum after monotherapy.

Adult↗

A genetic epidemiological study of hereditary prostate cancer (HPC) in Finland: frequent HPCX linkage in families with late-onset disease.

Several predisposition loci for hereditary prostate cancer (HPC) have been suggested, including HPC1 at 1q24-q25 (OMIM #601518) and HPCX at Xq27-q28 (OMIM #300147). Genetically homogeneous populations, such as that of Finland, and distinct subsets of families may help to minimize the genetic heterogeneity that complicates the genetic dissection of complex traits. Here, the role of the HPC1, and HPCX loci in a series of Finnish prostate cancer families was studied, especially in subgroups of families defined by age, number of affected cases, and the mode of disease transmission. DNA samples were collected from 57 Finnish HPC families with at least two living prostate cancer patients. Linkage analysis was carried out with 39 microsatellite markers for the HPC1 region and 22 markers for the HPCX region. The maximum two-point LOD score for the HPCX was 2.05 (marker DXS1205, at theta = 0.14), whereas HPC1 LOD scores were all negative. In HOMOG3R analyses, significant evidence of heterogeneity was observed. Subgroup analyses performed to explore the nature of this heterogeneity indicated that families with no male-to-male (NMM) transmission and a late age of diagnosis (>65 years) accounted for most of the HPCX-linked cases. The maximum HPCX LOD score in this subgroup was 3.12 (theta = 0.001). Nonparametric sibling pair analyses gave a peak LOD score of 3.04 (P < 0.000093) for the NMM transmission subgroup. No subgroup showed any positivity for HPC1. This study suggests that the HPCX-linked prostate cancer families represent a distinct subgroup characterized by NMM transmission of disease and late age of diagnosis.

Age of Onset↗