[Rearrangement of the chromosome 17 in colonic adenocarcinoma]

Chromosome studies on five cases of large bowel adenocarcinoma show a systematic rearrangement of chromosome No. 17 after breakage in its juxtacentromeric region (band 17 q 11). A frequent involvement of chromosome No. 8 (juxtacentromeric break) and the loss of chromosome No. 18 are also noticed. A review of the literature strengthens the hypothesis of a preferential involvement of these chromosomes in large bowel cancer.