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Chromosomal imbalances in carcinoma showing thymus-like elements (CASTLE)

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Abstract

Carcinoma showing thymus-like elements (CASTLE) is a rare neoplasm of the thyroid gland resembling lymphoepithelioma-like and squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus and is thought to arise from ectopic thymic tissue within the thyroid gland or rudimentary branchial pouches along the thymic line. Using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), chromosomal imbalances have been detected in several types of thymomas and thymic carcinomas. To evaluate whether there are hints of an underlying sequence in the pathogenesis of CASTLE analogue to those found in thymomas and thymic carcinomas, we evaluated four of these rare neoplasms for chromosomal imbalances using CGH. The most frequent gains were seen on chromosomal arm 1q (3/4), and losses were most frequently detected on 6p (4/4), 6q (3/4) and 16q (3/4). These CGH data show that CASTLE is characterized by chromosomal imbalances similar to those found in thymomas and thymic carcinomas and indicate a similar sequence in tumour development.

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Prof. Klaus Kaserer (Labor Kaserer and Salzer OG, Labor Kaserer and Salzer OG Vienna, Austria; klaus.kaserer@meduniwien.ac.at) and Prof. Sören Schröder (Lademannbogen Laboratories, Institute of Pathology, Hamburg, Germany; schroeder@labor-lademannbogen.de) for providing paraffin-embedded material.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Correspondence to Lothar Veits.

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Lothar Veits and Gunhild Mechtersheimer contributed equally to this publication.

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Veits, L., Mechtersheimer, G., Steger, C. et al. Chromosomal imbalances in carcinoma showing thymus-like elements (CASTLE). Virchows Arch 459, 221–226 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-011-1117-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-011-1117-7

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