Human large-bowel cancer: correlation of clinical and histopathological features with banded chromosomes.

Clinical and histopathological features were correlated with cytogenetic banding studies on direct preparations from 31 large-bowel tumors. An interesting relationship between the site and the karyotypes of the tumors was observed. There appears to be a progressive increase in chromosomal number and/or structural rearrangement as one progresses from proximal to distal large bowel. We suggest that these observations may be related to differences in function and micro-environment within different areas of the colon. Although it is not known what factors favor cytogenetic variability and instability on the left side or the presence of fewer abnormalities on the right side of the colon, it is evident that clonal karyotypic evolution may be important in the progression of large-bowel cancer. The brevity of follow-up precludes conclusions regarding the influence of karyotype on survival.