Amplified met gene linked to double minutes in human glioblastoma

The met proto-oncogene was found to be amplified in a human glioblastoma cell line (T3095) established from a glioblastoma multiform WHO grade IV. Amplification of epidermal growth factor receptor, transforming growth factor alpha and N-myc which have been described previously in glioblastoma were not observed in T3095. There was, however, an 8-fold met amplification. Giemsa-stained metaphases of T3095 cells revealed multiple (> 5) double minutes (dmins) in the majority of cells. Following xenografting in nude mice there was a significant increase in the number and frequency of dmins. The increase in dmins correlates with the level of met amplification (50-fold), suggesting localisation of the amplified met on dmins. Here we report the first case of met amplification in glioblastoma. Correlation between met amplification and extrachromosomal elements (dmins) has not been reported previously.