Nonrandom chromosome changes in carcinoma of the cervix uteri. I. Nine near-diploid tumors

Abstract

Chromosome analysis of G- and C-banded preparations of tumor material, processed by a direct method, from nine primary carcinomas of the cervix with modal chromosome numbers in the range 41–49 showed the nonrandom involvement of certain chromosomes in structural and numerical changes. Besides chromosome No. 1 (six tumors), structural changes involved chromosomes No. 11 (five tumors with variable breakpoints and translocation partners), No. 3 (three tumors) No. 6 (three tumors), and No. 17 (17p+ in two tumors). A small metacentric (present in duplicate in most metaphases of one tumor), which may have been a 5q− (?) (with an interstitial long arm deletion), was seen in five tumors. Additional normal chromosomes included chromosomes No. 1 (one tumor without structural changes in this chromosome showing trisomy 1) and No. 3 (four tumors showing trisomy in the absence of structural changes involving this chromosome). Losses commonly affected the B, D, and G groups, particularly chromosomes No. 13 (three tumors) and No. 21 (six tumors), as well as chromosome No. 18 (four tumors). Two X chromosomes were present in all tumors except the two with the lowest modal numbers, both of which lacked an X chromosome.