Cytogenetic evaluation of neuroblastoma using fine needle aspiration cultures.
OBJECTIVE
Open surgical biopsies of the primary tumor and bone marrow sampling in metastatic disease are the major sources of tumor material for genetic studies in neuroblastoma. The possibility of using cultures of material procured through Fine Needle Aspiration (FNA) for upfront cytogenetic studies of neuroblastomas is studied.


METHODS
From January 2006 to April 2008, 18 patients were diagnosed as neuroblastoma on fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). FNA material was cultured and processed to obtain metaphases and chromosomal analysis was performed. Minimum of five selected metaphases were analyzed and changes were documented.


RESULTS
The diagnosis of neuroblastoma was confirmed by FNAC in all. Among the 18 cases, 9 cases (50%) showed metaphases on cultures. Four cultures did not grow and five cultures got contaminated. Out of the nine cases that showed metaphases, four cases showed cytogenetic abnormalities. Near triploidy and Double minutes (Dmins) were seen in one case and tetraploidy in another case. 1q gain and 2q gain were observed respectively in third and fourth cases.


CONCLUSIONS
FNA provides viable single cell suspension suitable for cultures. This may be a good alternative strategy to acquire material for cytogenetic studies in neuroblastoma.
Moorthy
G
G
Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India.
Agarwala
Sandeep
S
Sharma
Arundhati
A
Iyer
Venkateshwaran K
VK
Srinivas
M
M
Bajpai
Minu
M
Bhatnagar
Veereshwar
V
Gupta
Devendra K
DK
D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
Diagn Cytopathol. 1999 Aug;21(2):81-91
10425044
Cancer Res. 1984 Nov;44(11):5444-9
6488196
Cancer Res. 1981 Nov;41(11 Pt 1):4678-86
6171342
Cancer. 1985 Apr 15;55(8):1805-17
2983864
Ann Genet. 2001 Jul-Sep;44(3):161-6
11694230
Acta Cytol. 2001 Mar-Apr;45(2):169-72
11284301
Ann Saudi Med. 1991 Jul;11(4):366-76
17590750
Nat Rev Cancer. 2003 Mar;3(3):203-16
12612655
Cancer. 1999 Apr 25;87(2):60-8
10227595
Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 1993 Feb;65(2):167-9
8453603
Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1997 Jul;19(3):143-9
9218994
Eur J Cancer. 2000 Aug;36(12):1544-51
10930802
Eur J Cancer. 1998 Mar;34(4):529-36
9713304
J Clin Oncol. 1993 Aug;11(8):1466-77
8336186