Genomic Profiling of Breast Cancer (BC) in Mali by Oligonucleotide Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) Array

Background: Epidemiological studies suggest that BC in Africa exhibit specific biological characteristics as compared to BC from US/Europe. In order to identify therapeutic targets that would be specific from Africa, we analyzed 28 samples from Mali by high resolution CGH array, and compared gene gains/losses to the ones observed in USA [André F et al, Clin Cancer Res, 2009]Patients and methods: 71 paraffin-embedded samples of invasive BC from patients treated by surgery at Bamako were retrieved, 28 of them (from 2 pts stage 1; 13 pts stage 2; 11 pts stage 3 and 2 pts stage 4) were eligible for CGH array (1) (Agilent, 4*44K) (cancer cells>50%; undamaged DNA >1µg).Results were compared to 106 samples from MD Anderson, profiled in the sample genomic platform using the same array (1)Results: The median age was 49 year old. Twenty-one samples (75%) were ER-negative. No difference was observed regarding the frequency of gene gains in 17q12-21 (ERBB2) nor 8p11-12 (FGFR1). Six regions were more frequently gained in BC from Mali, as compared to those from US (FDR Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 3059.