title: C-band heteromorphism in breast cancer patients.
abstract: The pattern of heteromorphism in the C-band-positive constitutive heterochromatin of human chromosomes #1, #9, and #16 was studied in peripheral lymphocytes of 54 breast cancer patients and 78 control individuals. The parameters of the heterochromatic regions analyzed were relative size, symmetry-asymmetry within homologous pairs, and prevalence of inversions. Significant differences between the two groups were found in C-band size of chromosomes #1, #9, and #16 and in incidence of inversions on chromosomes #1 and #9. Significant differences were noted between premenopausal and postmenopausal cancer patients in regard to inversions on chromosome #9 and between familial and sporadic patients in regard to C-band size on chromosome #16.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D007446:Chromosome Inversion; D002900:Chromosomes, Human, 1-3; D002902:Chromosomes, Human, 16-18; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; D005260:Female; D006570:Heterochromatin / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D006570:Heterochromatin