Detection of numerical chromosome aberrations in urologic malignancies using in situ hybridization from formarin-fixed paraffin sections

Abstract

It has been shown that molecular cytogenetics in interphase nuclei is applicable to paraffin embedded sections from formarin-fixed materials utilizing in situ hybridization (ISH). This allows precise identification of numerical abnormalities of chromosome in tumor cells without disruption of tumor morphology. Thirteen cases of bladder cancer and twenty six cases of prostate adenocarcinoma were evaluated for numerical aberrations of chromosome 1, 7, 10, 11, 17, 18, X and Y utilizing biotinylated probes specific for the alpha satellite region. In two cases from total prostatectomy, one case from total cystectomy and two cases from TUR-P specimen, hybridized chromosomes could not be detected in individual tumor cells. With respect to the appearance of the ISH signal, optical concentration and time for the digestion enzyme has to be established essentially. This technique can now be applied on the detection of biological activity in various types of urological cancer.