Specific chromosome anomalies and predisposition to human breast, renal cell, and colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

Specific chromosome abnormalities in three human solid tumors of adulthood—renal cell carcinoma, breast tumor, and colon carcinoma—are described. Two of the neoplasms are associated with a reciprocal translocation involving chromosome #3 (breakpoint at band p13–14 with 6, 8, 11, and 16) in renal cell carcinomas and chromosome #1 (breakpoint at band q21 with chromosomes #3, #5, #10, #11, and #12) in breast carcinomas. Most of these chromosomal rearrangements have been seen as tumor-specific acquired changes in tumor cells, as well as some constitutionally present in normal tissues of patients. In a limited number of colorectal carcinoma samples a deletion in the short arm of a chromosome #12 is implicated as a specific abnormality. The expression of fragile sites in these specific chromosomal regions in the normal peripheral blood cultures might identify an individual predisposed to develop a particular type of neoplasm.