Recurrent, novel focal deletion regions were furthermore detected affecting tumour suppressor genes SMAD2 and SMAD4. Profiling of CNAs in metastatic tumours additionally identified amplification of SOX3 and deleted regions affecting STK11, KEAP1 and MGA. It is interesting that CNAs of several genes with function in histone or chromatin modification, such as KDM5B, CREBBP, SETD2, SMARCA4 and MECP2 were also found either in primary or metastatic tumours, suggesting a potential role of epigenetic regulation in lung adenocarcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene SOX3 and lung adenocarcinoma.