Detection of numerical chromosomal aberrations in paraffin-embedded malignant pleural mesothelioma by non-isotopic in situ hybridization.

An in situ hybridization (ISH) study on paraffin sections of 13 malignant mesotheliomas was performed to detect numerical chromosomal aberrations with biotin-labelled DNA probes specific for the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, and 17. All chromosomes contributed to numerical changes, which can be summarized as follows: first, a monosomy for chromosome 6 was found in one case; second, in five cases a trisomy for at least one chromosome was detected; and third, in seven cases a pentasomy or a higher polysomy was found for at least one chromosome. Although these data have to be confirmed on a larger group of patients, survival analysis of this group showed no significant difference between the first and second groups taken together and the third group. In this study no specific numerical chromosomal aberrations were identified. Nevertheless, numerical gains appear to be more frequent than has previously been shown by karyotype analysis.