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Glioblastomas express a notable heterogeneity in both the histological and cell patterns with glial astrocytic differentiation. Primary glioblastoma, which is the most frequent presentation (90-95%), occurs mainly in older patients and arises de novo, without any clinical or histological evidence of a less malignant precursor lesion. EGFR amplification has been identified as a genetic hallmark of primary glioblastomas and occurs in 40-60% of cases. However, there exist primary glioblastomas without EGFR amplification/overexpression. The purpose of this study was to stabilize the association between cases with and without EGFR gene amplification with clinical and genetic parameters in 45 cases of primary glioblastomas. EGFR amplification was observed in 24 cases (53%), while in the remaining 21 cases (47%) this alteration was not displayed. And whereas EGFR was overexpressed in 79% of cases with EGFR amplification, only 33% of the cases without EGFR amplification showed overexpression. The amplification of EGFR was associated with amplifications in MDM2 and CDK4 and a higher percentage of cases with promoter methylation of INK4a. Only one case of glioblastoma with EGFR amplification presented TP53 mutation simultaneously. Seven remaining cases with TP53 mutations were glioblastomas without EGFR amplification. The INK4a, INK4b and ARF deletions were similar in the two groups. Primary glioblastomas with and without EGFR amplification did not show any significant differences in average survival. The genetic studies suggest the existence of molecular subtypes within primary glioblastoma that may, when fully defined, contribute toward the development of drugs that specifically target tumors with divergent genetic profiles.

A case of chromophobe renal cell carcinoma is reported in a 73 year-old man. Light microscopically, the tumor was composed of polygonal cells with a slightly eosinophilic and a fine reticular pattern, and a reaction of the cytoplasm with Hale's acid iron colloid. Ultrastructural analysis showed membranous microvesicles within the tumor cells, with degenerated mitochondria. Immunohistochemical profile against intermediate filaments was positive to cytokeratin 18 and negative against vimentin. Flow cytometry and cytogenetics revealed a predominant hypertriploid population. Few cases have been published with flow cytometry and cytogenetic findings. We report a new case.

A 17-year-old girl was referred to us because of primary amenorrhea and features of Turner's Syndrome. The karyotype obtained from peripheral lymphocytes cultures was mos 45,X/46, XYnf/47, XYnfYnf/46, X, dic (Ynf) (q12). The karyotype of fibroblasts derived from cultures of both gonads was mos 45, X/46, XYnf/47, XYnfYnf. The Y chromosome was non-fluorescent in all the examined lines. We report here the clinical and cytogenetic findings in a patient with an unusual sex chromosome mosaicism.

We present two new cases of Y-autosome translocation which were detected in two azoospermic males. In the first case the translocation was de novo with the karyotype: 46,XY,t(Y;16)(q12;q11-12). In the second case the karyotype was: 46,XY,t(Y;1)(cen-q11;cen-p11), t(Y;15)(q12;p11), the mother having been a carrier of the same Y-15 translocation, and showing the chromosomic formula: 46,XX,t(Y;15)(q12;p11).

Cytogenetic studies were performed in nine patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; four were lymphoblastic lymphoma, three Burkitt's-type and two diffuse lymphomas with mixed small and large cell. All cases showed pseudodiploid or hyperdiploid mode and, moreover, four cases had metaphases with a normal karyotype. All patients showed clonal chromosomal abnormalities, except one (lymphoblastic T-lymphoma). The translocations t (8;14) (q24;q32) and t (8;22) (q24;q11) were the abnormalities found in Burkitt's lymphoma. The translocation t (14;18) (q32;q21) was found in one case, of lymphoblastic type. In the other tumours, the chromosomes involved in the different aberrations were: #1, #3, #7, #8, #9, #14 and #17. We attempted to correlate the cytogenetic findings with histology and prognosis.

A case of familial translocation t(3;22) (q21;q13) detected through a boy carrier with various functional and phenotypical alterations is described. The caryotype study (G bands) showed that the mother, one maternal aunt, two maternal uncles, and the brother of the proband were likewise carriers of the same translocation. We discuss the type of segregation and the high familial incidence of the translocation.

Cytogenetic studies on newborn infants show a high incidence in chromosomal abnormalities (0.5-1% of the population). Chromosomal study is carried out on 750 children from the University Hospital of Valencia over a two-year period, chosen at random and without any clinical pathology. Five gonosomopathies and three autosomopathies were found. In the former, three 47,XXY, one triple-X, and one isochromosome of long arms of chromosome X, were detected. In autosomal chromosomopathies, a Robertsonian translocation was seen between chromosomes 13 and 14, a reciprocal translocation between chromosomes 8 and 10, and an inversion of chromosome 3. Altogether eight cytogenetic anomalies appeared, a percentage slightly over one percent. Importance of early diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities is discussed, with the aim of establishing adequate treatment when possible, and genetic counselling for the family.