TRISOMY-3 IN RENAL-CELL CARCINOMA

Particular chromosomal aberrations have been associated with specific histologic types of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). To date, trisomy 3 has rarely been described, and this aberration has not been associated wi th any specific pathologic features, Herein, we report the cytogenetic analysis of 16 primary RCCs, including 8 papillary and 8 clear-cell p rimary tumors and 1 recurrent papillary tumor. Trisomies of chromosome 7 (7 of 8 tumors), 17 (7 of 8), 16 (7 of 8), and 20 (4 of 8) were fre quent in primary papillary RCC, and deletions of chromosome 3p were de tected in 7 of 8 clear-cell RCCs. Trisomy 3 was detected in five of ei ght papillary RCCs and was commonly associated with other trisomies, T risomy 3 was an isolated finding in one of eight clear-cell RCCs. Four of five papillary RCCs with trisomy 3 had abundant intracytoplasmic h emosiderin, four of five were low grade, and all 5 were organ confined , The single clear-cell tumor with trisomy 3 had no other cytogenetic aberrations, also had abundant intracytoplasmic hemosiderin, and was a lso low grade and low stage, The recurrent papillary RCC did not have trisomy 3. We conclude that trisomy 3 is present in some RCCs and migh t be associated with low-grade, low-stage, papillary tumors with intra cytoplasmic hemosiderin.