NUMERICAL ABERRATIONS OF CHROMOSOME-16, CHROMOSOME-17, AND CHROMOSOME-18 IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA - A FISH AND FCM ANALYSIS OF 20 CASES

Conventional cytogenetic studies have demonstrated frequent abnormalit ies of specific chromosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma, although ther e are few reports examining the relationship between chromosomal aberr ations and clinicopathologic features. In this study, numerical aberra tions of chromosomes 16, 17, and 18 were examined by fluorescence in s itu hybridization using pericentromeric DNA probes in 20 cases of surg ically removed hepatocellular carcinoma. DNA ploidy analysis was also performed by flow cytometry. Numerical abnormalities of chromosomes 16 , 17, and 18 were found in 7 of 19 cases, 15 of 20 cases, and 12 of 20 cases, respectively. Gain and/or loss of more than one chromosome was detected in 16 of 19 cases. However, aneuploidy was seen in only 9 of 20 tumors by flow cytometry. The incidence of aneusomy 17 and 18 incr eased with tumor size and stage progression. Fluorescence in situ hybr idization analysis demonstrated that numerical chromosomal aberrations accumulated with tumor progression in hepatocellular carcinoma.