Characterization of chromosomal aberrations in lung cancer cell lines by cross-species color banding.

Using cross-species color banding (RxFISH) and chromosome painting techniques, chromosomal aberrations were investigated in six lung cancer cell lines (NCI-H524, H865, H522, H1373, H358, A549). Each cell line had a variable number of numerical and structural cytogenetic aberrations. While NCI-H524, -H865, and -H522 had near diploidy, NCI-H358, -H1373, and A549 had near triploidy. The origins of the marker chromosomes were further identified by RxFISH and chromosome painting: Nonrandom chromosomal rearrangements were seen on 1p, 3q, 5p10-p15, 6q13-q21, 7q22-q31, 9p32, 15q22-qter, 17p, 17q21-q25, and 21. These abnormal cytogenetic findings indicate that multiple genetic lesions are associated with the development of lung cancer, and thus, these might be possible candidate regions for the abnormal genes involved in lung cancer.