Chromosomal rearrangements in a primary hepatocellular carcinoma.

Chromosome analysis of cells obtained at biopsy from a 65-year-old man with primary hepatocellular carcinoma revealed characteristic abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 9, 13, 16, and 22 in each cell and maintenance of a pseudodiploid chromosome number (46,XY). Five of the chromosomal sites involved in these rearrangements are either in fragile site regions or in regions containing genes that encode cellular oncogenes. Some of the tumor cells manifest mitotic deviations in the form of asynchronies, spiralization, premature centromere division, and non-sister chromatid associations. The significance of these findings to hepatocellular carcinogenesis is discussed.