del(6q) as a possible primary change in malignant mesothelioma.
Detailed cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of an untreated pleural malignant mesothelioma revealed two clonal cell populations, both with a single abnormality affecting chromosome 6. The majority of cells had a deletion together with an inversion of the long arm of chromosome 6, while a smaller population showed loss of this chromosome. The normal 6 was retained. Most reports show that mesotheliomas are characterized by complex karyotypes, involving numerous chromosomes. Abnormalities of chromosome 6 (particularly deletions of the long arm) are among the consistent changes. Our case apparently is the first report of a mesothelioma with a single change involving chromosome 6, which could be the primary cytogenetic change.
Meloni
A M
AM
Cancer Center of Genetrix, Inc., Scottsdale, Arizona 85251.
Stephenson
C F
CF
Li
F P
FP
Sandberg
A A
AA
D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002896:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery