Mj. Worsham et al., Chromosomal aberrations identified in culture of squamous carcinomas are confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation, J CL PATH-M, 52(1), 1999, pp. 42-46
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
Aims-Chromosomal aberrations in tumour cells are often not discernable by d
irect analysis. Although cell culture allows qualitative analysis of the ka
ryotype, potential selection and evolution during growth in vitro may yield
misleading data. To determine whether aberrations observed in vitro are re
presentative of the original lesion, chromosomal aberrations found after pr
olonged growth in vitro of two squamous cell carcinomas of the head and nec
k (SSCHN) were evaluated with fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) on
the original tumour nuclei.
Methods-Specific karyotypic aberrations identified in cultures of two squam
ous cell carcinomas were targets for FISH analysis on tumour sections. Chro
mosome painting mixtures were selected based on in vitro karyotypic data. F
ISH was performed on cultured interphase and metaphase cells, and on histol
ogical sections from the original tumours.
Results-The 9cen and 17cen probes yielded FISH signals consistent with the
aneusomies predicted for the respective chromosomes from the culture karyot
ypes. Whole chromosome 9 paint confirmed the prior existence in the tumours
of i(9p) and i(9q), although only the latter hybridised with the Been prob
e. FISH data also supported in vivo representation of the diploid and tetra
ploid tumour subclones observed in cultures. In tumour HFH-SCC-8a, FISH res
ults were generally concordant between cultured interphase and metaphase ce
lls and the histological sections, and improved the interpretation of marke
r chromosomes identified in culture.
Conclusion-The karyotypes obtained in these cases after prolonged passage i
n culture were consistent with the genetic alterations in the original tumo
urs.