INTERPHASE CYTOGENETICS OF GASTRIC AND ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMAS

Numerical changes affecting chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 1 2, 16, 17, 18, and the X and Y chromosomes have been analyzed using ch romosome-specific centromeric alpha-satellite repeat DNA probes in a p anel of biopsies of six gastric and three esophageal adenocarcinoma an d one epidermoid carcinoma of esophagus obtained at surgery. For each case, with each probe, the number of hybridization signals were determ ined in 200 nuclei. Hybridization of each probe to phytohemagglutinin- stimulated normal peripheral blood lymphocytes served as controls. Mon osomy was defined by loss of one signal in 15% or more cells and triso my or tetrasomy was defined by the presence of 3 or 4 signals in 7% or more cells, respectively. The Y chromosome was lost in 6 of 8 cases a nd monosomy 10 was seen in 5 of 10 cases. Trisomy for chromosomes 17, 8, 7, 12, 11, and 1 was seen in 4 of 10, 4 of 10, 4 of 10, 2 of 10, 2 of 8, and 2 of 10 cases, respectively, and tetrasomy for chromosome 7 was seen in 1 of 10 cases. These data show that the Y chromosome and c hromosomes 10, 8, 7, 17, and 12 are most frequently involved in nondis junctional changes in these tumors. They also document the feasibility and utility of interphase cytogenetics of gastric adenocarcinomas.