Genomic alterations in fallopian tube carcinoma: comparison to serous uterine and ovarian carcinomas reveals similarity suggesting likeness in molecular pathogenesis.

Serous carcinomas of the fallopian tube, uterus, and ovary resemble each other both histologically and in clinical behavior. Comparative genomic hybridization was performed on 20 primary fallopian tube carcinoma specimens to find regions of the genome involved in tubal carcinogenesis and to compare the genomic alterations with those previously detected in serous ovarian and uterine carcinomas. The most frequent changes detected in fallopian tube carcinoma were gains at 3q (70%) and 8q (75%), with high-level amplifications in several cases. Other common gains occurred at 1q, 5p, 7q, 12p, and 20q. The most frequent losses were found at 18q, 8p, 4q, and 5q. The frequency and the pattern of chromosomal changes detected in tubal carcinoma were strikingly similar to those observed in serous ovarian and uterine carcinomas, suggesting common molecular pathogenesis.