Numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 detected by FISH with DNA-specific probe in oral tumors.

Numerical aberrations of chromosomes were investigated in oral tumors by using fluorescence in situ hybridization (F1SH) with 4 chromosome centromere-specific DNA probes. The hybridization signals of the centromere sequence were easily detected and counted within interphase nuclei as well as metaphase chromosomes. The number of hybridized signals for chromosome 17 significantly increased in oral malignant tumors compared to benign tumors, which had two spots as well as normal lymphocytes. Cell lines derived from oral squamous cell carcinoma also showed numerical aberrations of chromosomes 1, 4 and 11, in addition to chromosome 17. These findings suggested that numerical aberrations of chromosomes occur during the development of malignant tumors of the oral cavity.