Genetic changes in primary colorectal cancer by comparative genomic hybridization.

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a powerful new technique for the molecular cytogenetic analysis of cancer. In this method, at first the cancer DNA and normal DNA are labeled with biotin and digoxigenin, respectively, and then the labeled DNAs are applied onto normal lymphocyte metaphase preparations in hybridization. After hybridization, they are stained with FITC and rhodamine, respectively, so chromosomal gains and losses in cancer are thus detected by using a green:red ratio. In this study, we analyzed the abnormal chromosomes in nine cases with human primary colon cancer. A gain in chromosomes 11p, 12q, 16p, 20p, and 20q were observed, while a loss of 18q and 22q were discovered. CGH may thus provide us with important information for analyzing the genes in colon cancer.