1. ¹Department of Oncology, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cancer Genomics Program, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XZ, UK
2. ²Department of Pathology, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2XZ, UK
3. ³Department of Histopathology, The Breast Unit, Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust and University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG5 1PB, UK

Correspondence: C Caldas, E-mail: cc234@cam.ac.uk

Received 21 January 2005; Revised 22 March 2005; Accepted 6 April 2005; Published online 16 May 2005.

Abstract

Amplification of 8p11–12 is a well-known alteration in human breast cancers but the driving oncogene has not been identified. We have developed a high-resolution comparative genomic hybridization array covering 8p11–12 and analysed 33 primary breast tumors, 20 primary ovarian tumors and 27 breast cancer cell lines. Expression analysis of the genes in the region was carried out by using real-time quantitative PCR and/or oligo-microarray profiling. In all, 24% (8/33) of the breast tumors, 5% (1/20) of the ovary tumors and 15% (4/27) of the cell lines showed 8p11–12 amplification. We identified a 1 Mb segment of common amplification that excludes previously proposed candidate genes. Some of the amplified genes did not show overexpression, whereas for others, overexpression was not specifically attributable to amplification. The genes FLJ14299, C8orf2, BRF2 and RAB11FIP, map within the 8p11–12 minimal amplicon, two have a putative function consistent with an oncogenic role, these four genes showed a strong correlation between amplification and overexpression and are therefore the best candidate driver oncogenes at 8p12.