Chromosome changes in early gynecologic malignancies.

Chromosome changes characteristic of fully invasive neoplasms were found in direct preparations from a noninvasive ovarian carcinoma and three carcinomas in situ of the cervix uteri, two of which showed early stromal invasion. Abnormal chromosomes present included structurally changed chromosomes 6 and an isochromosome for the long arm of chromosome 17 (in the ovarian carcinoma and one carcinoma in situ), chromosomes 1 with long arm deletions (in two carcinomas in situ) and double minute chromatin bodies (in one of two metaphases obtained from the third carcinoma in situ). A chromosome of uncertain origin with a homogeneously staining region was also present in the ovarian carcinoma.