CYTOGENETIC STUDIES OF EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

We performed cytogenetic studies of 36 human epithelial ovarian carcin omas using in situ culture and robotic harvest. We obtained analyzable metaphases of all 36 tumors (100%). One or more chromosomally abnorma l clones were observed in 80% of tumors. Common clonal chromosome gain s (each occurring in six or more cases) included +1, +2, +3, +6, +7, 9, and +12. Common clonal chromosome losses (occurring in 12 or more c ases) included -X, -4, -8, -11, -13, -15, -17, and -22. Common clonal structural abnormalities (occurring in four or more cases) involved re gions 1p36, 1q32, 1q42, 3p13-->26, 3q26-->q29, 7p22, 9q34, 11p13-p15, 17q21-->q23, 19p13.3, and 19q13.3. Trisomy 12 was noted as the sole an omaly in three of five borderline and grade 1 tumors. Two grade 2 tumo rs contained i(1q), -14, -15 and -22. The results suggest that the pat hogenesis of borderline and low-grade tumors may differ from that of h igher grade tumors. Two high-grade tumors had an apparent translocatio n between 17q21 and 19p13.3, two chromosome regions believed to be cri tical to ovarian carcinogenesis.