Analysis of numerical chromosome aberration of gastric cancer: Application of fluorescent in situ hybridization using chromosome specific DNA probes
Yamaguchi, H.
Acta Medica Nagasakiensia 37(1-4): 163-170
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0001-6055 Accession: 008155880
An analysis in the numerical chromosome aberration of human gastric cancer was made by applying fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with chromosome specific DNA probes. Thirteen primary tumors and four metastatic lymph nodes were surgically resected from thirteen gastric cancer patients and analyzed. FISH using alpha satellite DNA probes of chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 11, 17 and X was applied to interphase cells of each sample, then the signal spot number in each nucleus was counted. DNA ploidy from the flow cytometric analysis of nuclear DNA content was compared with chromosomal aberration from FISH analysis. Numerical chromosome aberration, especially a gain in chromosomes, occurred more frequently in DNA aneuploid cancers than in DNA diploid cancers. Numerical gain of chromosomes 7 and 17 were significantly more frequent in DNA aneuploid cancers. Since gastric cancer with a gain in chromosome 7 and/or 17 is often accompanied with a high level of metastasis in lymph nodes and/or distant metastasis, it is suggested that numerical gain of thsoe chromosomes must be related to the ability of metastasis or growth in metastatic regions. Since the FISH study could detect numerical chromosme aberration in DNA diploid cancer, we will be able to further study the DNA diploidy of clinical materials by using this technique. Because FISH has made it possible to detect the chromosome number rapidly in the interphase cells, it is hopeful that human solid cancer chromosome analysis will rise as these materials for analysis increase and that we will take long strides in cytogenetic research of cancer in the near future.