Abstract
We have employed a laser-capture microdissection technique and single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays to characterize genomic alterations associated with the development of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Combined analysis of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and copy number revealed that more than half (56.3%) of the 254 identified LOH loci showed no copy-number alteration, indicating the presence of copy-number neutral LOH (cnLOH). Furthermore, we found a GBM case that showed cnLOH in 18 of the 22 autosomes. These results were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR, microsatellite analysis, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The high rate of cnLOH suggests that epigenetic abnormalities of many genes are involved in the development and progression of GBMs.