BackgroundIn the last decade, microarray technology has been extensively used to evaluate gene expression profiles and genome imbalances. We have developed a microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) approach to identifyMYCNgene amplification and 1p36 chromosome loss, two markers of tumor aggressiveness in neuroblastoma.AimThe aim was to use microarray CGH technology to detect the two major prognostic markers for neuroblastoma,MYCNamplification and 1p36 chromosome deletion, in neuroblastoma patients and, therefore, confirm the usefulness of this approach in this cancer.MethodsDNA was purified from 16 tumors containing at least 90% malignant neuroblasts and collected at the onset of disease. Pooled fluorescent-labeled reference and neuroblastoma tumor genomic DNA was hybridized to epoxide-coated glass slides on laboratory-made complementary DNA microarray. The microarray contained cDNA mapped at the 1p36.33-36.1 chromosomal region andMYCNgene. cDNA from the 2q33-q34 and 12p13 chromosomes was used as a control andArabidopsis thalianaDNA was spotted to control unspecific hybridization. Fluorescencein situhybridization analysis was also performed to validate results from the microarray CGH.ResultsBothMYCNamplification and 1p36 chromosome deletion were detected by microarray CGH. The sensitivity and specificity for 1p36 loss detection were 66.7% and 90.0%, respectively. The method had a sensitivity of 66.7% and specificity of 90.9% to detectMYCNamplification.DiscussionOur results demonstrated that the microarray CGH can be efficiently applied to study DNA gain and loss of specific chromosome regions.