Detection of numerical chromosomal aberrations in oral leukoplakias and HNSCC by fluorescence in situ hybridization

The tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been proposed to represent a multistep process characterized by an accumulation of genetic alterations. To study numerical chromosomal aberrations and chr omosomal imbalances, biopsies of 11 malignant tumours and biopsies of 16 or al premalignant lesions (leukoplakias) were analyzed by fluorescence in sit u hybridization (FISH) using centromeric probes for chromosomes 1,7,9, 10 a nd 17. The comparison of the alterations observed in simple leukoplakias (g roup 1,n=8), dysplastic leukoplakias (group 2, n=8) and malignant tumours ( group 3,n=11) by the Cochran-Armitage Trend Test revealed an increasing num ber of numerical chromosomal abberations. This difference was statistically highly significant (P<0,001). The data open up the possibility that FISH a nalysis might help to better characterize the progression of premalignant o ral leukoplakias.