NUMERICAL CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS IN HODGKINS-DISEASE DETECTED BY IN-SITU HYBRIDIZATION ON ROUTINE PARAFFIN SECTIONS

Aims-To visualise directly numerical chromosomal aberrations and polyp loidy in both Hodgkin and Reed Sternberg (HRS) cells and background ce lls from cases of Hodgkin's disease using in situ hybridisation. Metho ds-Non-isotopic DNA in situ hybridisation was applied to interphase ce ll nuclei of Hodgkin's disease within routine paraffin embedded tissue sections. Two a satellite DNA probes, specific for chromosomes 3 and 12, were used to evaluate the feasibility of this approach. Double lab elling with immunocytochemical detection of the CD30 antigen was used to identify HRS cells. Cytogenetic normal diploid and triploid placent al tissue served as controls. Results-The eight cases of Hodgkin's dis ease investigated displayed frequent polysomy, while the majority of b ackground cells showed disomy signals. Conclusions-Numerical chromosom al aberrations were detected in HRS cells from eight cases of Hodgkin' s disease by in situ hybridisation. These data show that in Hodgkin's disease HRS cells frequently display polyploidy compared with backgrou nd cells and are, therefore, probably the only neoplastic component in this disease. Correlations between polysomy and tumour type or grade could not be made from these data owing to the Limited number of cases examined and to problems with interpreting data from truncated nuclei .