Cytogenetic features of twenty-six primary breast cancers

Tumor preparations from 26 primary breast cancers were studied cytogenetically with G-banding, using a direct technique, synchronized short-term culture, or both. Two tumors had normal karyotypes, and 24 (92%) had chromosomal abnormalities. Nineteen tumors had chromosome 1 rearrangements, with 10 cases (40%) displaying distal short arm translocations (1p36). Other frequent breakpoints occurred at 3p21, 6q22-27, 11q21-25, 16q22-24, 17p, and 19q13. To seek primary rather than secondary cytogenetic changes, attention was directed toward tumors with diploid-range karyotypes (32-57 chromosomes per cell). Of four such tumors, three exhibited nonrandom involvement of chromosome 16q22. This, together with previously reported data, suggests that deletion or rearrangement of chromosome 16q21-24 may be a primary or specific event in a subset of breast cancers.