Genome scanning of human breast carcinomas using micro- and minisatellite core probes.

We have analyzed tumor and lymphocyte DNA from six breast cancer patients by one- and two-dimensional DNA fingerprinting using micro- and minisatellite core probes to estimate the extent and nature of DNA alterations in tumors. Both approaches were compared regarding sensitivity in genome analysis. We find that the number of deletions and amplifications increases linearly with the number of restriction fragments analyzed using the two-dimensional approach, as compared with the number found using the more traditional one-dimensional method. A set of four micro- and minisatellite core probes resulted in a total number of approximately 70 bands per patient using one-dimensional analysis of RsaI-digested DNA. When the same DNA was analyzed with the two-dimensional approach about 300 analyzable spots were resolved. In one patient, the tumor DNA contained 11 amplified spots and 14 deleted spots when compared to the patients lymphocyte DNA. Using HaeIII-digested DNA, a maximum of 845 spots could be observed, with only three probes.