DELETION OF CHROMOSOME-11 AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLORECTAL-CARCINOMA

The deletion of chromosome 11q is observed frequently in tumors of the large intestine. To investigate the relationship between aberrations of chromosome 11 and histopathological features of colorectal carcinom a, we examined the frequency of chromosome aberrations using fluoresce nce in situ hybridization to 29 short-term cultured cells from surgica l specimens. Numerical aberrations were not related to any factors. Th e deletion of chromosome 11 was frequently observed in larger (greater than or equal to 5 cm) and more invasive tumors (greater than or equa l to T3 category) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the incidence of aberration s tended to increase in Dukes' B. Although translocation of chromosome 11 was also found in 17% of cases, it was not associated with histopa thological features. Our findings indicate that the deletion of chromo some 11 is closely related to the progression of colorectal carcinoma.