title: Chromosome alterations associated with positive and negative lymph node involvement in breast cancer.
abstract: Genetic heterogeneity is high in breast cancer, and hence it is difficult to link a specific chromosome alteration to a specific clinicopathologic feature. We examined clonal chromosome alterations in 45 breast carcinomas and statistically correlated the findings with clinical-histopathological parameters of the patients. The most common abnormalities were losses of chromosomes 19, 22, 21, X, and 17 and gains of chromosomes 9 and 18. A statistically significant correlation was found between clonal aberrations in chromosomes 17, 20, and 21 and positive lymph node involvement (LN+) and between clonal aberrations in chromosomes X and 6 and negative involvement (LN-). The average number of chromosome abnormalities was the same for both LN- and LN+ groups, and numerical and structural alterations were equally distributed. The mean number of chromosome aberrations did not differ significantly among tumor grades, but when aberrations were analyzed as monosomies, trisomies, and structural aberrations, a heterogeneous distribution was observed. Further cytogenetic investigation of breast tumors and their variable pathological features is undoubtedly necessary. The recognition and ultimately the molecular understanding of these abnormalities may improve breast cancer taxonomy and provide important prognostic information for both the patient and clinician.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lismeri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wuicik
authors.forename: Luciane Regina
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Cavalli
authors.forename: Déborah Afonso
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cornélio
authors.forename: Ana Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Schmid Braz
authors.forename: Miriam L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: Rubens Silveira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Cícero Andrade
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.forename: Luiz Fernando
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Bleggi Torres
authors.forename: Enilze Maria S F
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Iglenir João
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Cavalli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018567:Breast Neoplasms, Male / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged