Evaluation of paediatric osteosarcomas by classic cytogenetic and CGH analyses

Classic cytogenetic and comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH) data on osteosarcomas have been reported extensively in the literature. However, the number of paediatric osteosarcoma cases studied below the age of 14 years remains relatively small, This study reports four new cases of paediatric osteosarcoma in patients aged 3 to 13 years, evaluated by classic cytogenetics and CGH analyses. Clonal chromosomal alterations were detected in all the cases and included structural rearrangements at 1p11-13, 1q11, 4q27-33, 6p23-25, 6q16-25, 7p13-22, 7q11-36, 11p10-15, 11q23, 17p11.2-13, 21p11, and 21q11-22. The CGH analysis revealed recurrent gains at 1p, 4q, 17p, and 21q and losses at 3q and 16p. Five amplification sites were observed at 1q11-23, 6p21, 8q13, 8q21.3-24.2, and 17p. The data are discussed and compared with other cytogenetic reports in the literature.