Detection of chromsomal region copy number changes to diagnose melanoma

Abstract

This invention provides methods of detecting melanoma. The methods comprises detecting a gain or loss of certain chromosomal regions that undergo copy number changes in melanoma.

1 . A method of detecting a melanoma in a patient, the method comprising:
 contacting a nucleic acid in a biological sample from the patient with a probe that selectively hybridization to a chromosomal region selected from the group consisting of 1q21, 1q32, 1q42, 5p15, 6p24, 6p23, 6p22, 6p21, 7q36, 9p24, 10q21, a region of 10q23.3 from about 89,698,198 to about 93,052,778, 10q25, 12q15, and 21q21;   and detecting a change in the copy number of the chromosomal region that is indicative of melanoma, thereby detecting the melanoma.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change in copy number is a gain of 1q21, 1q32, 1q42, 5p15, 6p21, 6p22, 6p23, 6p24, 7q36, or 12q15. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change is copy number is a loss of 9p24, 10q21, a region of 10q23.3 from about 89,698,198 to about 93,052,778, 10q25, or 21q21. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change in copy number is a gain of 1q21, 1q32, 5p15, 6p21, or 6p24. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the change is copy number is a loss of 9p24, 10q21, a region of 10q23.3 from about 89,698,198 to about 93,052,778, or 10q25. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is a skin sample. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biological sample is from lymph node, lung, liver, adrenal gland, or bone. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises an amplification reaction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contacting step comprises an in situ hybridization. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the probe specifically hybridizes to a gene listed in Table 1.