Specific numerical chromosomal aberrations induced by adriamycin

Fluorescence in situ hybridization with 7, 17, X, and Y chromosome-specific DNA probe was used to investigate the ability of Adriamycin (AM) to induce aneuploidy in interphase human lymphocytes. The reliability of the probes was tested by hybridization to metaphases and interphase nuclei of untreate d normal lymphocytes. Two signals were scored in over 87% of the analysed n uclei with chromosome 7 and 17 probes, whereas one signal was recorded in o ver 86% of the nuclei with chromosomes X and Y. The same conditions and pro be concentrations were used for hybridizing the four probes to interphase n uclei of AM-treated and untreated lymphocytes, cultured from healthy indivi duals and cancer patients. AM was Found to induce significant increases of trisomy 7 and 17 in lymphocytes cultured from healthy individuals and cance r patients, where the interphase nuclei showed three spots in over 70% and 72% of: the cells, respectively. Only 6% of interphase nuclei of untreated cells cultured from healthy individuals and cancer patients showed three sp ots. No significant increase in X or Y aneuploidy was induced by exposure t o AM. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.