Characterization of amplified chromosomal regions and identification of pathogenetic and prognostic relevant oncogenes in soft tissue sarcomas.

Malignant soft-tissue tumors represent a very heterogeneous group of tumors the typing of which is still very difficult. Furthermore, only few information about the molecular mechanisms leading to progression of these tumors, exist. In the course of the collaboration with the institute of pathology of the University of Heidelberg (PD Dr. G. Mechtersheimer) we analyse chromosomal aberrations in different types of soft-tissue sarcoma, in particular malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors, lyomyosarcoma, as well as different subtypes of liposarcoma. By means of CGH and Matrix-CGH we identified a number of recurrently imbalanced chromosomal regions in these tumors, as for example strong amplifications on chromosome 5p, 6q and 17p in liposarcoma. The expression of genes within these regions is currently analysed using quantitative RT-PCR. By means of suitable bioinformatic analysis we further test whether single subtypes of soft-tissue tumors are characterized by specific aberration patterns and whether these patterns are of diagnostic and/or prognostic relevance.

selected publications in this field:

• Distinct chromosomal imbalances in pleomorphic and in high-grade dedifferentiated liposarcomas.
• Detection of chromosomal imbalances in leiomyosarcoma by comparative genomic hybridization and interphase cytogenetics.
• Analysis of chromosomal imbalances in sporadic and NF1-associated peripheral nerve sheath tumors by comparative genomic hybridization.

This project is fundet by the 'Tumorzentrum Heidelberg/Mannheim' (FSP I. / 1.3.)