Cytogenetic findings in three primary hepatocellular carcinomas

Short-term cultures of three primary hepatocellular carcinomas were cytogenetically analyzed. Case 1 displayed a normal karyotype. Case 2 had, in addition to cells with a normal male chromosome complement, a clone with −Y. In case 3, two abnormal clones were found, one with −Y and one with a highly aberrant karyotype: 71–79,XX,−Y,(3n+/-),+3,−8,−16,−17,−21,dez(1)t(1;?) (p36;?),del(1)(p11),+dez(1)t(1;?)(q21;?),+del(1)(q32),+der(3)t(1;?;3)(3qter→3p11::?::1p12→1p36::?), der(6)t(6;8)(q12;q13),+der(6),9p+,+del(9)(q13),del(10)(q24),dez(12)t(12;?)(p13;?),inv dup(12)(q11q24), der(13)t(10;13)(q11;p13),+1–9mar. Our results, collated with the findings in one previously published primary hepatocellular carcinoma and in three cell lines, suggest that structural changes of chromosomes 1 and 6, leading to loss of 1p and 6q material, and loss of chromosome 16 are frequent events in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.