High-density array comparative genomic hybridization detects novel copy number alterations in gastric adenocarcinoma.

To investigate frequent quantitative alterations of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. We analyzed genome-wide DNA copy numbers of 22 samples and using CytoScan® HD Array. We identified 22 gene alterations that to the best of our knowledge have not been described for gastric cancer, including of v-erb-b2 avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 4 (ERBB4), SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 6 (SOX6), regulator of telomere elongation helicase 1 (RTEL1) and UDP-Gal:betaGlcNAc beta 1,4- galactosyltransferase, polypeptide 5 (B4GALT5). The most significant alterations related to peritoneal invasion involved the regions 13q21.1 (gain) and 15q15.1, 17q23.1, 19q13.2 and 20q11.22 (loss of heterozygozity; LOH), where we found LOH of erythrocyte membrane protein band 4.1-like 1 (EPB41L1) gene. In relation to early age of onset, the most significant alterations were gains in the regions Xq26 and Xp22.31 and a loss in the region 11p15.4. These quantitative changes may play a role in the development of this type of neoplasia and may be used as markers in evaluating poor prognosis, as well as act as potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.