Non-random primary and secondary chromosomal abnormalities in human gastric cancers.

By using Giemsa-banding and fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques, we have been able to identify primary and secondary cytogenetic abnormalities in four gastric tumors at different stages of development. Structural and numerical abnormalities were present in all four gastric tumors in chromosomes 3, 7, 11, and X. Other abnormalities involving chromosomes 1, 5, 6, 8, 13, 15, 17, 18, 19 and 22 were observed, but only in three advanced gastric tumors, suggesting that these were secondary/tertiary genetic defects. Based on these results it was possible for us to decipher primary and secondary genetic abnormalities in these four gastric tumors.