M.Rosa Caballín

Human sperm chromosomes: Long-term effect of cancer treatment☆

The long-term cytogenetic effect of radio- or chemotherapy or both on male germ cells was evaluated by study of the chromosomal abnormalities in spermatozoa of four men treated for cancer 5-18 years earlier. The cytogenetic analysis of 422 sperm metaphases showed no differences in the aneuploidy rate. The incidence of structural chromosome aberrations was 14.0%, however, which is much higher than in controls. Thus, the high incidence of structurally aberrant spermatozoa observed in our long-term study indicates that antitumoral treatments affect stem-cell spermatogonia and that aberrant cells can survive germinal selection and produce abnormal spermatozoa.

Detection of chromosomal imbalances in papillary bladder tumors by comparative genomic hybridization

OBJECTIVES To identify those genetic alterations that are associated with bladder cancer invasion and progression. METHODS A total of 30 specimens of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder were analyzed by comparative genomic hybridization. The results were compared and summarized with previously reported studies. RESULTS The most frequent chromosome changes detected in our series of tumors were losses in 9q, 9p, 8p, and 11p and gains in 8q, 1q, 20q, and 11q. Three regions of deletion on chromosome 9 were delineated, at 9p21-p22, 9q13-q22, and 9q31-q34. Gains in 1q and losses on 11p were significantly more frequent in pT1G2 tumors than in superficial (pTa) ones. In our study, the most striking differences were seen between pT1G3 and pT1G2 tumors. Gains on 10p and 6p and losses at 5q, 6q, and 18q were significantly more frequent in the former. CONCLUSIONS A summary of our results and those available from published reports suggest that several groups of chromosomal imbalances may be associated with specific steps along bladder cancer progression. These genetic changes assume two different patterns: those that are shared, but are more intensive in one stage than in the other, and those such as a gain on 3p that are unique to invasive tumors.

Mosaicism in XX males.

SummaryThree males with a 46,XX karyotype are described. In two of them, evidence of a Y-containing line was found. In the first case, 1 of 500 lymphocyte metaphases was 47,XXY. In the second, 1 of 400 oral mucosa cells contained a Y body. The proportion of low-grade XX/XXY mosaics found among XX males now stands at about 17%.

Study of Allelic Losses on 3p, 6q, and 17p in Human Urothelial Cancer

Forty-eight transitional cell carcinomas of the bladder and three transitional cell carcinomas of the renal pelvis were examined for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosomes 3p, 6q, and 17p. The most frequent allelic loss was seen on 17p (18/36, 50%) followed by 6q (6/22, 27%), and 3p (5/22, 23%). In cases with LOH at more than one locus, the same DNA sample often varied in degree of signal reduction for missing alleles. This observation indicates that LOH studies can serve to detect intratumor heterogeneity. No correlation was found between allelic losses at these chromosome arms and tumor grade and stage. Allelic losses on 6q were associated with tumors having a solid growth pattern; in this kind of tumors, allelic losses on 3p were associated with invasion.

A case of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder with a del(9)(q11q21.2).

Monosomy for chromosome 9, as well as loss of heterozygosity for markers on this chromosome, has been detected in a high percentage of transitional cell carcinomas (TCC) of the bladder. We report a case of a TCC of the bladder with an interstitial del(9)(q11q21.2) that could be indicative of the presence of a putative tumor-suppressor gene related to bladder tumor progression. To elucidate the role of chromosome 9 in bladder tumors, it would be interesting to study a possible loss of heterozygosity in this chromosome region.

Isochromosome 14q in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We report a case of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with an isochromosome 14q as the sole abnormality. A review of the literature revealed that isochromosome 14 has not been previously reported in ALL. The prognostic significance of this abnormality is compared with that of other hematologic disorders with trisomy 14.

t(5;12)(q31;q24) in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Abstract Cytogenetic study in an 11-year-old girl with an L1-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) showed the presence of a t(5;12)(q31;q24), not previously described in hematologic neoplasms.

New chromosomal abnormality: t(1;19;?) in a case of B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Cytogenetic analysis was performed on peripheral blood cells stimulated with interleukin 6 (IL-6), lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (LPS), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and tetradecanoyl-phorbol-acetate (TPA), in a patient with B-chronic lymphocytic leukemia, showing a t(1;19;?) translocation as the sole abnormality. To our knowledge, this translocation has not been described before in any human neoplasia. In this case, the poor response to therapy (survival time 4 months) suggested that t(1;19;?) could be related to an aggressive course of the disease.

An XX male with a 46,XX/47,XX,+Y(q12→qter) karyotype

SummaryWe describe a male with the karyotype 46,XX/47, XX,+Y(q12→qter), which may be interpreted as due to an insertion (Y;X)(Yq11→Yq12;Xp22) or to mosaicism, 46,XX/47, XX,+Y(12→qter). In any case, some of the H-Y determining genes may be located on the long arm of the Y chromosome.