Detection of numerical chromosome anomalies in interphase cells of benign and malignant thyroid lesions using fluorescence in situ hybridization

Benign and malignant thyroid tumors constitute a wide range of neoplasias s howing recurrent chromosome abnormalities. In an attempt to characterize sp ecific numerical chromosome abnormalities in thyroid tissues, We present he re the findings from a study of archival samples depicted by 10 malignant t umors, 30 benign lesions, and 10 normal thyroid tissues. Fluorescence in si tu hybridization was performed on noncultured samples using biotinylated ce ntromere-specific probes for chromosomes 7, 10, and 17. Trisomy or tetrasom y 7 were present in 19 benign and in 7 malignant tumors. Trisomy 10 or 17 w ere observed in 18 adenomas or goiters and in 9 carcinomas, and monosomy 17 was seen in 2 carcinomas. Our findings suggest that such abnormalities are an in vivo phenomenon and may be important in the neoplastic proliferation of thyroid gland. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 2000. All rights reserved.