[Detection of chromosomal aberrations in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by rapid primed in situ labeling].
OBJECTIVE
The chromosomal aberration is common in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The currently-used methods for detecting chromosomal abnormalities are complicated and of limited clinical value. The purpose of the present study was to explore the feasibility of detecting chromosomal abnormalities in NPC by rapid primed in situ labeling (RPRINS).


METHODS
Using RPRINS technique with specific oligonucleotide primers of chromosome 3 and 7, the abnormalities of chromosome 3 and 7 in the frozen section tissues of 15 cases of NPC and 5 cases of normal nasopharyngeal mucosa (NNM) were detected. Loss of chromosome was defined when the percentage of cells with labeling signals </=1 was >/=65%, and the increase in chromosomal copy number was defined when the percentage of cells with labeling signals >/=3 was >/=6.5%.


RESULTS
In 15 cases of NPC tissues, the chromosome 3 had a labeling rate of 88.6% and increasing copy numbers in ten cases (66.7%), and the chromosome 7 had a labeling rate of 87.4% and loss of chromosome in five cases (33.3%). Four cases coexisted with increasing chromosome 3 copy numbers and loss of chromosome 7. In contrast, the labeling rates of chromosome 3 and 7 in NNM were 92.0% and 91.8%, respectively, and the percentage of diploid cells were 43.2% and 43.6%, respectively, with absence of triploid. There was a significant difference in the percentage of diploid cells between NPC and NNM (P< 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The technique of rapid PRINS could be used to detect chromosomes in frozen section tissues, and the chromosomal abnormalities would be helpful in diagnosis of NPC.
Xie
Min-Qiang
MQ
Department of Otolaryngology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510630, P.R.China.
Huang
Yu-Lin
YL
Xiao
Jian-Yun
JY
Zhao
Su-Ping
SP
Chen
Zhao-Hui
ZH
Wang
Cheng-Long
CL
D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002893:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3; D002897:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020401:Primed In Situ Labeling / Q000379:methods*