Amplification of 3q26 approximately qter correlates with tumor progression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Biological characteristics of malignant tumors including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are greatly affected by genetic alterations. However, the relationship between chromosomal aberrations and pathologic tumor stage in HNSCC has not been elucidated. In 32 patients, DNA sequence copy number aberrations (DSCNA) were surveyed by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) combined with a microdissection method. The average number of DSCNA was 15.3 per tumor and increased with tumor stage (P<.05). DNA copy number gain was detected at 3q26 approximately qter in 29 tumors (91%), and 13 of these tumors displayed marked DNA amplification. Tumor stage was linked with this amplification (P<.05). The increase in DSCNA and amplification of 3q26 approximately qter are likely to be useful markers for estimating tumor progression in HNSCC.