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Astrocytomas contain nonrandom chromosomal abnormalities that recently have been correlated with shortened patient survival. Two frequently reported aberrations are trisomy 7 and monosomy 10.We assessed the numerical complement of chromosomes 7 and 10 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded brain biopsy tissue from 28 diffuse astrocytomas by in situ hybridization using a nonfluorescent enzymatic detection system. Clinical follow-up of at least 5 years was available in 26 cases (93%).Monosomy 10 was identified in 7 cases (25%): astrocytoma, 1 case; anaplastic astrocytoma, 1 case; and glioblastoma, 5 cases.Cytogenetic studies have revealed consistent nonrandom numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities in astrocytic neoplasms. Two recent studies at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn) have demonstrated prolonged survival of patients with a normal tumor karyotype compared with those exhibiting clonal aberrations, 1 ' 2 suggesting that cytogenetic analysis may provide useful diagnostic and prognostic information for patients with central nervous system malignancies. Common numerical changes in diffuse astrocytomas include gains of chromosome 7 and losses of chromosomes 10, 22, X, and Y, whereas structural abnormalities most frequently involve chromosomes 1 and 9.2-7 Furthermore, molecular genetic and cytogenetic studies provide evidence for an orderly M a n u s c r i p t received A u g u s t 6, 1996; revision accepted December 11,1996.Address reprint requests to Dr White: Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Dr Tonk is now with the Department of Pediatrics, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Lubbock, Texas.Trisomy 7 was identified in 11 cases (39%): astrocytoma, 5 cases; glioblastoma, 6 cases. Multivariate analysis revealed that monosomy 10 was the most statistically significant negative predictor of patient survival.Numerical chromosomal abnormalities are detectable in astrocytomas in archival tissue using interphase cytogenetics and nonfluorescent light microscopy. Although larger studies are required, our data suggest that potentially useful prognostic information may be obtained with this approach.

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