Skip to main content
Log in

Chromosomal instability in breast cancer patients

  • Original Investigations
  • Published:
Human Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We have carried out cytogenetic studies, using the G-banding technique, in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 10 patients affected by breast carcinoma. The frequency of aberrant metaphases (7.36%) is significantly different from that of our laboratory controls (3.76% of aberrant metaphases) but not from that detected in patients suffering from bladder cancer (10.64%) and Hodgkin's disease (11.03%), two conditions that have previously been described as chromosomally unstable. Our results suggest that breast carcinoma patients show a degree of chromosomal instability that could be related to a predisposition to neoplastic disease.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barrios L, Caballín MR, Miró R, Fuster C, Berrozpe G, Subias A, Batlle X, Egozcue J (1988) Chromosome abnormalities in peripheral blood lymphocytes from untreated Hodgkin's patients. A possible evidence for chromosome instability. Hum Genet 78:320–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrios L, Miró R, Caballín MR, Fuster C, Guedea F, Subias A, Egozcue J (1990) Chromosome instability in bladder carcinoma patients. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 49:107–111

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown T, Dawson AA, McDonals IA, Bullock I, Watt JL (1985) Chromosome damage and sister chromatid exchanges in lymphocyte cultures from patients with two primary cancers. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 17:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Czeizel A, Crosz L, Gardonyi J, Remenar K, Ruziscka P (1974) Chromosome studies in twelve patients with retinoblastoma. Humangenetik 22:159–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Delhanty JDA, Davis MB, Wood J (1983) Chromosomal instability in lymphocytes, fibroblasts and colon epithelial-like cells from patients with familial polyposis coli. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 8:27–50

    Google Scholar 

  • Dutrillaux B, Gerbault-Sereau M, Zafrani B (1990) Characterization of chromosomal anomalies in human breast cancer. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 49:203–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferti-Passantonopoulou A, Panani AD, Raptis S (1991) Preferential involvement of 11q23–24 and 11p15 in breast cancer. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 51:183–188

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitzgerald PA (1983) Premature centromere division of the X chromsome. In: Sandberg AA (ed) Cytogenetics of the mammalian X chromosome. In: Sandberg AA (ed) Cytogenetics of the mammalian X chromosome, part A: Basic mechanisms of X chromosome behavior. Liss, New York, pp 171–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Geleick D, Müller H, Matter A, Torhorst J, Regenass U (1990) Cytogenetics of breast cancer. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 46: 217–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Heim S, Mitelman F (1987) Cancer Cytogenetics. Liss, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Hsu TC (1983) Genetic instability in the human population: a working hypothesis. Hereditas 98:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Madhavi R, Guntur M, Ghosh R, Gosh PK (1990) Double minute chromosomes in the leukocytes of a young girl with breast carcinoma. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 44:203–207

    Google Scholar 

  • Murty VVVS, Mitra AB, Luthra UK (1985) Spontaneous chromosomal aberrations in patients with precancerous and cancerous lesions of the cervix uteri. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 17:347–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordenson I, Beckman K, Liden S, Stjernberg N (1984) Chromosomal aberrations and cancer risk. Hum Hered 34:76–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuñez M de, Penchaszaden UB, Pimentel E (1984) Chromosome fragility in patients with sporadic unilateral retinoblastoma. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 11:139–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathak S, Goodacre A (1986) Specific chromosome anomalies and predisposition to human breast, renal cell, and colorectal carcinoma. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 19:29–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Takabayashi T, Lin MS, Wilson MG (1983) Sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in fibroblasts from patients with retinoblastoma. Hum Genet 63:317–319

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Kantor A, Soldat K, Linluist K, Strand R, McLaughlin H, Schuman L (1982) Higher frequency of chromosomal aberrations and polimorphism in patients with renal carcinoma. Am J Hum Genet 34:78A

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Cedrone E, Skuse GR, Insel R, Dry J (1990) Two identical active X chromosomes in human mammary carcinoma cells. Cancer Genet Cytogenet 46:271–280

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurster-Hill DH, Cornwell GG, McIntyre OR (1974) Chromosomal aberrations and neoplasm — a family study. Cancer 33: 72–81

    Google Scholar 

  • Wurster-Hill DH, Cornwell GG, McIntyre OR (1979) Chromosome aberrations of myeloid and lymphoid cells in cancer patients and family members without evidence of cancer. Cancer Detect Prev 2:125–126

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barrios, L., Caballín, M.R., Miró, R. et al. Chromosomal instability in breast cancer patients. Hum Genet 88, 39–41 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204926

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00204926

Keywords

Navigation