POSSIBLE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN KARYOTYPES OF PREINVASIVE LESIONS AND MALIGNANT TUMOURS

In a series of 11 carcinomas of the cervix and 23 malignant tumours from other sites the proportion of chromosomes in D and G groups was usually, and in B group invariably, below that found in the corresponding diploid cells. On the other hand an analysis of published karyotypes derived from preinvasive cervical lesions does not reveal the same tendency towards a relative deficiency of chromosomes in these groups, although there is on the average a moderate deficiency of B group chromosomes. On the basis of these findings and similar findings on premalignant lesions at other sites including polyps of the large bowel, it appears that malignant lesions generally present karyotype changes which are not only of greater complexity compared with most premalignant lesions, but also reveal a tendency towards a reduction in the relative number of acrocentric and B group chromosomes which is not seen in the preinvasive stage. © 1969, The British Empire Cancer Campaign for Research. All rights reserved.