Multiple apparently unrelated clonal chromosome abnormalities in a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue

We have cytogenetically examined short-term cultures from a squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue, a tumor type in which chromosome aberrations hitherto have not been reported. No less than 12 pseudodiploid clones were detected, giving the tumor karyotype 46,X,der(X)t(X;1)(q26;p32),der(1)(Xqter----Xq26::1p32 ----cen----1q42:), del(13)(q11q21),t(15;?) (q26;?)/46,XX,t(1;?)(p34;?),inv(2)(p21q11)/46,XX,t(1;10)(p32;q24)/ 46,XX, + der(1)(12pter----12p11::1p11----cen----1q32:: 11q13----11q22::1q32----1q42:), del(11)(q13q22), -12, der(17)t(1;17) (q42;p13)/46,XX,inv(1)(p22q44)/47,XX,del(1)(q32),der(17)t(1; 17)(p22;q25), der(1)inv(1) (q25q44)t(1;17)(p22;q25),ins(14;7)(q11;q22q36), + 14/46,XX,t(1;4)(q23;q35)/46, XX,t(1;21) (q25;q22),t(2;10)(q31;q26),t(22;?)(q12;?)/46,XX,del(1)(q32)/46,XX, t(1;8)(q44;q21)/46,XX, t(2;21)(q11;p11)/46,XX,t(9;11)(q34;q13). The large number of apparently unrelated abnormalities leads us to suggest that the carcinoma may have been of multiclonal origin.