CYTOGENETICS AND MOLECULAR-GENETICS OF HUMAN SOLID TUMORS

It is generally accepted that cancer is a genetic disease resulting fr om the accumulation of multiple genomic rearrangements. These rearrang ements involve gross chromosomal abnormalities (e.g. translocations an d deletions) as well as submicroscopic mutations affecting both oncoge nes and tumour suppressor genes. Recent studies of several tumour spec ific translocations in sarcomas have shown that the translocations res ult in so-called fusion genes. In this review we will discuss the spec ificity and implications of different genetic alterations in both spor adic and hereditary human solid tumours, and provide examples of how t hese changes can be used as tumour specific markers of both diagnostic and prognostic significance.