Assessment of genomic imbalances in malignant fibrous histiocytomas by comparative genomic hybridization

In order to investigate genomic imbalances, comparative genomic hybridizati on was applied to 20 malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Deletions were rare a nd found mainly in chromosomes 2q33-35, 4q32-qter, 8p, 9p21-pter, 12p and 1 9p, whereas, over-representations frequently affected chromosomes 3, 4q31, 5p, 6, 7, 14q22-ter, 18p, as well as, five distinct amplifications within t he regions 12q12-15 and 15q24-qter. The total number of genetic imbalances per tumor was slightly increased in primary tumors when compared to relapse s. No relationship was found between the patterns of gain and loss when com pared to the histological subtype tumor grading, the clinical outcome and t he p53 mutation status.