C-band heterochromatin variants in individuals with neoplastic disorders: carcinoma of breast and ovary.

C-band heteromorphism was studied in 106 females, including 71 patients with breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Size heteromorphism and localization variants (inversions) were scored separately. Compared to 22.86% of controls, 70.42% of the cancer patients were heteromorphic for the size of C-band. The localization variants were observed in only 8.57% controls, whereas 42.25% of cancer patients carried such variants. Taking both the criteria together, compared to 31.43% controls, 80.28% cancer patients were C-band heteromorphic. The present study supports the reported association between presence of C-band heteromorphism and occurrence of a malignant disease.