title: Simple structural chromosomal abnormalities in advanced stage of ovarian cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ovarian cancer represents the leading cause of death among patients with gynaecological cancer. The identification of chromosomal abnormalities is a useful strategy toward understanding tumourigenesis and specific chromosomal associations. Since single chromosomal changes might be primary events implicated in the initiation of the neoplastic process, the aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of simple structural chromosomal changes in ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Reviewing on ascetic effusions samples cytogenetically studied by direct culture of tumour cells and a G-banding technique, two ovarian cancer cases were found which presented simple structural chromosomal abnormalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The first case presented an abnormal clone of cells with an acquired pericentric inversion of chromosome 9, inv(9)(p11q13), as a sole anomaly. The second case presented simple chromosomal changes with involvement of the Xq23 chromosomal region, while a translocation t(X;11)(q23;q23) was also defined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The significance of the acquired pericentric inversion 9 in the development of the neoplastic process remains unknown. The chromosomal regions Xq23 and 11q23 need to be further investigated in association with clinicopathological parameters in ovarian cancer. The documentation of more ovarian cancer cases with simple chromosomal abnormalities is considered of major importance facilitating the identification of candidate genes involved in the neoplastic process. Improving the molecular understanding of ovarian cancer development and progression could facilitate the detection of specific tumour subtypes.
authors.affiliation: The Critical Care Department, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece. apanani@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Anna D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Panani
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aravidis
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kosmaidou
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodolakis
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antsaklis
mesh_terms: D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002871:Chromosome Banding; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*