Bilharzial bladder cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in Egypt, a
lso occurring with a high incidence in other regions of the Middle East and
East Africa. In a previous study, using centromere probes specific for chr
omosomes 3, 4, 7-11, 16, and 17, we demonstrated that monosomy of chromosom
e 9 (48.4%), and numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 (19.4%) were the mo
st common observed imbalances. The present study extends the establishment
of the baseline cytogenetic profile of this type of malignancy. Interphase
cytogenetics by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the use of a panel
of centromere-associated DNA probes for chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13/21,
14, 15, 18, 19, 20, X, and Y was performed on paraffin-embedded bladder spe
cimens from 25 Egyptian patients affected with bilharzial bladder cancer. N
o numerical aberrations were detected in the 25 cases for chromosomes 1, 2,
5, 6, 12, 13/21, 14, is, 18, 19, 20, and X. However, loss of chromosome Y
was observed in 7 of the 17 male cases studied (41.2%). No significant corr
elation was observed between loss of the Y chromosome and any of the differ
ent clinicopathologic characteristics of these cases. These data suggest th
at loss of the Y chromosome is the second frequent event that can occur in
bilharzial bladder cancer. A molecular genetic model of bilharzial bladder
cancer is evolving. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.