Cytogenetics of non‐small cell lung cancer: Analysis of consistent non‐random abnormalities

Abstract

Cytogenetic analysis of ten primary non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC), including five adenocarcinomas (ADC), three squamous cell (SQC), and two large cell (LCC) carcinomas has been carried out in an attempt to determine karyotype changes involved in the early stage of disease. The tumors were all aneuploid and exhibited complex karyotypes with multiple structural and numerical abnormalities. Clonal structural rearrangements were identified and in particular loss of material from the short arm of chromosome 9 had a 90% incidence. This loss was due to non-reciprocal translocation, deletion, or chromosome loss. Breakpoints were in the region 9q13 to p22. Other chromosome regions that were non-randomly involved are as follows: I cen to p13, 3p, 5q11 to q13, 6p, 6q15 to q27, 7p, 8p, 11q12 to q23, 13p, 14p, 15p, 17p, and 19p. While a primary cytogenetic change in NSCLC has not been identified conclusively, our findings implicate loss of material from 9p as a potentially important event.

Comparison of DNA copy number changes in malignant mesothelioma, adenocarcinoma and large-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the lung

“…Cytogenetic analyses of NSCLC have detected, on average, more losses than gains of chromosomal material (Lukeis et al, 1990;Testa et al, 1994). These results are to some extent in contrast to ours, because we detected over four times more gains than losses.…”

“…These results are to some extent in contrast to ours, because we detected over four times more gains than losses. However, gains in lq, 7 and 12q have been frequent findings by cytogenetic analysis (Lukeis et al, 1990;Testa et al, 1994) and they were also frequent in our study. Because marker chromosomes are common cytogenetic findings, it is obvious that some of the chromosomal material thought to be lost resides in them.…”

“…We detected deletions in 9p in six mesotheliomas but only in two carcinomas. Based on previous published cytogenetic data on mesothelioma and NSCLC, a higher frequency of losses in 9p was to be expected (Hagemeijer et al, 1990;Lukeis et al, 1990;Taguchi et al, 1993;Testa et al, 1994). It is likely that deletions in 9p existed in our specimens but were not detected because of intratumour genetic heterogeneity.…”

“…Several cytogenetic studies have been performed on both mesothelioma and non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), but no chromosomal aberration specific to either of the tumours has been found. Both show very complex karyotypes with multiple numerical and structural changes (Tiainen et al, 1989;Hagemeijer et al, 1990;Lukeis et al, 1990;Taguchi et al, 1993;Testa et al, 1994).…”

A case‐control analysis of lymphocytic chromosome 9 aberrations in lung cancer

“…Chromosome 9 aberrations have been reported as one of the most frequent genetic changes in lung tumorigenesis. Cytogenetic studies have detected loss of genetic material from 9p in 90% of nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) 8 and 9q aberrations in tumor cells from patients with NSCLC. 9 These findings have been confirmed by loss of heterozygosity (LOH) analysis using microsatellite markers that showed frequent homozygous deletions on chromosome 9p in human small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and NSCLC.…”