Allelic imbalance is not restricted to numerically abnormal chromosomes inepithelial ovarian tumours

In this study, 23 low malignant potential (LMP) and 27 invasive epithelial ovarian tumours have been examined by microdissection and microsatellite po lymerase chain reaction (PCR) for allelic imbalance (AI) at loci on the p a nd q arms of chromosomes 1, 11, 17, and X, and the data have been compared with interphase cytogenetics for numerical abnormalities (aneusomy) of thes e chromosomes. AI was uncommon in LMP tumours (5 of 23 at 9 of 146 informat ive loci) but was significantly more common (p < 0.001) in invasive carcino mas (21 of 27 at 47 of 168 informative loci). This difference remained when LMP tumours were compared specifically with stage I carcinomas (p < 0.001) . A greater number of loci were involved in AI amongst serous than amongst mucinous carcinomas (p = 0.015). AI was present at significantly more loci in carcinomas showing aneusomy by interphase cytogenetics than in those sho wing no numerical chromosome abnormalities (p < 0.001). However, amongst th e carcinomas showing aneusomy, AI was as frequent at loci on chromosomes wi th no numerical abnormality as at those with the numerical changes. These d ata demonstrate that aneusomy and AI are interrelated phenomena but that AI does not occur simply as a consequence of numerical chromosome changes. Co pyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.