Highly complex chromosomal aberrations in bone marrow of a patient with metastatic prostate neoplasm

Prostate cancer is the single most common malignancy among men in North America. Nevertheless, cytogenetic evaluation of bone marrow in patients with metastatic prostate neoplasm has been rare and, to date, only five such patients have been reported. We report an additional case where chromosomal abnormalities of a bizarre nature were found in the bone marrow. Though cytogenetic findings in prostate cancer are heterogeneously complex, the chromosome regions involved include 1p, 1q, 7q, 8p, 10q, 12p, and 17q and are considered hot spots. What is the significance of these so-called hot spots in metastasis of prostatic cancer to the bone marrow? At present, no meaningful conclusion can be drawn, as data are limited, but accumulation of such cases may provide valuable information concerning the role of chromosomal abnormalities in patients--specifically with metastatic stage--and may help urologists during therapeutic decision making, particularly if a genetic marker for aggressiveness can be determined.