Cytogenetic abnormalities in tumors of patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease

Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant disorder that causes the development of benign and malignant tumors in several organ systems. Tumors causing significant morbidity include retinal angioma, cerebellar hemangioblastoma (CH), renal cell carcinoma (RCC), and pheochromocytoma (Pheo). Cytogenetic studies of tumors in VHL patients are rare. Cytogenetic findings in tumors from 12 patients with VHL disease, including four RCCs, three CHs, and five Pheos are presented. Three of the four RCC cases were abnormal. Monosomy 3 or a deletion of 3p was present in all three abnormal cases. Complete or partial trisomy of chromosome 5 was present in two cases. A deletion of 14q, trisomy 7, and a missing Y were each observed in one case. These findings indicate that a deletion of 3p may be a primary cytogenetic change in RCCs associated with VHL disease in addition to playing a role in sporadic RCC. Duplications of 5q and deletions of 14q may be important secondary changes in the progression of the malignant phenotype. No visible cytogenetic abnormalities were observed in the three CHs, or in four of the Pheos. One of the five Pheos was found to exhibit mosaic trisomy 7; its significance is unclear at the present time.