Evidence for a 3p25 breakpoint hot spot region in thyroid tumors of follicular origin

Thyroid. 2006 Nov;16(11):1091-6. doi: 10.1089/thy.2006.16.1091.

Abstract

Epithelial tumors of the thyroid are cytogenetically well-investigated tumors. So far, the main cytogenetic subgroups, characterized by trisomy 7 and by rearrangements of either 19q13 or 2p21, respectively, have been described. Recently, we have been able to describe the involvement of a novel gene called THADA in benign thyroid lesions with 2p21 rearrangements. Other fusion genes found in thyroid lesions are RET/PTC and PAX8/PPAR(gamma). The latter occurs in follicular thyroid carcinomas with a t(2;3)(q13;p25). Here we present molecular-cytogenetic and cytogenetic investigations on a follicular thyroid adenoma with a t(2;20;3)(p21;q11.2; p25). In this case, an intronic sequence of PPAR(gamma) is fused to exon 28 of THADA. We used BAC clones containing the genomic sequence of PPARgamma for fluorescence in situ hybridization to confirm the localization of the breakpoint within intron 2 of PPAR(gamma) . Our findings suggest that the close surrounding of PPAR(gamma) is a breakpoint hot spot region, leading to recurrent alterations of this gene in thyroid tumors of follicular origin including carcinomas as well as adenomas with or without involvement of PAX8.

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Alternative Splicing
  • Chromosome Breakage*
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 2
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3
  • Female
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics*
  • PPAR gamma / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • PPAR gamma
  • THADA protein, human