Editorial: Chromosomes and human neoplasms. Achievements using new staining techniques

Numerical and structural chromosome aberrations are frequently found in neoplastic cells. As demonstrated by the new chromosome banding techniques these aberrations are not random, but tend to show a specific occurrence. A model example is the leukemias where many cytogenetical investigations have been done to date. In leukemia chromosome analysis serves the following purposes: to identify a neoplastic process, to confirm and strengthen the hematological diagnosis, for the early diagnosis of transformation from a chronic leukemia into its blastic phase and for following up the clonal evolution of a leukemic cell line. In the discussion of chromosomes and neoplasms it must be mentioned that individuals demonstrating chromosomal instability and some trisomic patients show a greater tendency toward the development of a malignancy. Malignancy is primarily a cellular phenomenon caused by a disturbance in cellular regulation, whose fine events are not known. Therefore the exact role of the chromosomes in neoplastic processes cannot be stated. From experimental investigations it appears that the affected chromosomes carry cell growth regulating factors and also that a specific aberration is the result of the action of a specific agent.