Common marker chromosomes in ovarian cancer.

Cytogenetic analysis of six cases of ovarian adenocarcinoma revealed the presence of common marker chromosomes. The chromosomes involved in rearrangements, were #1 (four cases), #3 (six cases), #6 (two cases), and #17 (three cases). Our data support the presence of previously reported common aberrations of certain chromosomes in ovarian cancer. The presence in all six cases of a 3p- marker chromosome, previously reported as a specific abnormality in small cell lung cancer, indicates that it can also be found in other types of cancer.