Trond Stokke

A physical map of chromosome 20 established using fluorescence in situ hybridization and digital image analysis

The physical locations of 46 cosmid clones and 21 P1 clones were determined along the chromosome 20 axis relative to the p terminus (FLpter) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and digital image microscopy. The cosmid clones were selected from the chromosomally enriched library LA20NC01. Nine P1 clones were selected from a pooled DuPont genomic library using PCR with primer pairs selected to amplify genetically mapped sequence-tagged sites. This information was used to relate the physical map to the genetic map. Twelve P1 clones were selected from the same library using PCR primer pairs that amplified known genes. Two of these, E2F and BCLX, had not been mapped previously.

Molecular cytogenetics of human breast cancer

Our studies of human breast cancer using CGH and FISH with precisely mapped probes have revealed a surprising amount of intratumor and intertumor heterogeneity in human breast cancers. However, some regions of abnormal copy number are found frequently. We believe that the regions of frequent abnormality harbor novel cancer genes, and that identification of these is important for diagnosis, prognostication, and the development of new therapies.