Cytogenetic analysis in urothelial cell carcinoma.

Tissue specimens from 96 patients with urothelial cell carcinoma were subjected to cytogenetic examination to determine whether there is a correlation between chromosomal abnormalities and tumor behavior. Recognizable metaphases were found in 43 patients (45 per cent). The range in chromosomal counts appeared to be a better reflection of invasion than the modal number. Noninvasive tumors nearly always were hypodiploid or diploid. All invasive tumors showed hyperploid cells. Cytogenetically, there was no difference between invasive grade 2 and grade 3 tumors. During our limited followup tumor progression was found only in tumors with hyperploid cells. With a direct technique we found no difference in the frequency of marker chromosomes according to tumor stage and grade.