Common marker chromosomes in ovarian cancer

Cytogenetic analysis of six cases of ovarian adenocarcinoma revealed the presence of common marker chromosomes. The chromosomes involved in rearrangements, were #1 (four cases), #3 (six cases), #6 (two cases), and #17 (three cases). Our data support the presence of previously reported common aberrations of certain chromosomes in ovarian cancer. The presence in all six cases of a 3p- marker chromosome, previously reported as a specific abnormality in small cell lung cancer, indicates that it can also be found in other types of cancer.

Hereditary ovarian carcinoma. Biomarker studies

Three ovarian-cancer-prone kindreds were studied, two of which contained identical twin sisters concordant for ovarian carcinoma. In one kindred, both identical twin sisters had daughters with ovarian carcinoma. In another kindred, one of the identical twin sisters had an ovarian-cancer-affected daughter. Ovarian carcinoma showed vertical transmission in all three families in a pattern consonant with an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance. Medical-genetic survey of each family included detailed questionnaires with retrieval of primary medical and pathology documents on cancer of all anatomic sites. Putative biomarker determinations included: (1) in vitro hyperdiploidy in dermal monolayer cultures; and (2) lower serum levels of alpha-L-fucosidase (less than or equal to 275 IU/ml) in all cancer-affected patients and statistically significant lower levels in 50% risk individuals when compared to spouse and published controls (P = 0.04 and P = 0.0002, respectively). These findings are discussed in context with the eventual development of a risk factor profile which, given acceptable sensitivity and specificity, would enable identification of individuals who would be prime candidates for intensive surveillance/management programs.

Chromosomal changes in an ovarian granulosa cell tumor: similarity with carcinoma

The chromosomal changes in an ovarian granulosa cell tumor were studied after short-term culture in defined medium. The abnormalities found included X monosomy, structural rearrangements of chromosome #1, and an interstitial deletion of the long arm of chromosome #6. This pattern is closely related to that found in ovarian carcinoma and argues for the malignant nature of such tumors at the cellular level.

Generation of clonal variants in a human ovarian carcinoma studied by chromosome banding analysis

We have utilized detailed chromosome banding analysis to document the selection of variant genetic clones existing in cell populations obtained from a patient with ovarian adenocarcinoma. Cytogenetic analysis was performed on two samples from the patient's malignant ascites obtained over a 9-month interval. Tumor cell lines were also established in monolayer culture from each ascites sample, analyzed by chromosome banding techniques, and compared to the clonogenic population grown from each ascites specimen. Appearance of karyotypically distinct populations were identified from both the in vivo tumor and the tumor cell lines. Tumor colony-forming units (TCFU) evidenced minimal karyotypic change between the original ascites tumor and the ascites sample obtained after a 9-month period in vivo. In contrast, the cell lines derived from these two ascites samples demonstrated markedly different karyotypic populations between samples and progressive chromosome change within each sample following prolonged in vitro growth.

46,XY gonadal dysgenesis: is oncogenesis related to H-Y phenotype or breast development?

Among women with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis, there is a high incidence of gonadal tumors. Because of evidence of a connection between occurrence of those tumors, H-Y phenotype, and breast development, we surveyed 55 cases of 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis and 12 related cases involving chromosomal and/or skeletal abnormalities. Our survey, including three new cases presented here, indicates that H-Y phenotype but not breast development may be related to the development of the gonadoblastoma-dysgerminoma. Thus among women with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis, there are H-Y- and H-Y+ classes, but gonadal tumors are found almost exclusively in the H-Y+ class. Yet one of our patients may represent an exception to the association of H-Y+ phenotype and gonadal tumors in this syndrome.

Histologic grade and karyotype of immature teratoma of the ovary

Seven cases of ovarian "pure" immature teratoma were encountered in patients 10 to 38 years of age, six cases being in Stage Ia and one case in Stage IIc. The primary tumors and recurrent growth observed in one case were histologically graded from 0 to 3 according to the criteria of Norris et al. Karyotypes of the tumors and the patients were determined using culture and banding techniques. The only nonsurviving case was in Stage IIc. Four primary tumors belonging to grades 0, 1, and 2 showed a normal 46,XX female karyotype and the patients are alive and healthy. Three grade 3 tumors showed various types of karyotype abnormalities (48,XX,+14,+21; 47,XX,+20; 47,XXX). One patient died, one is alive after experiencing a recurrent tumor, and one has only been followed for 22 months. All seven patients had a normal 46,XX female chromosome constitution. Evidence to date indicates that karyotype of ovarian immature teratoma is either normal female 46,XX or a slight deviation from normal. It is postulated that in ovarian immature teratoma normal 46,XX karyotype is an indicator of favorable prognosis, whereas deviations in karyotype suggest a possibility of poor prognosis.

Chromosomal complements in primary gonadal failure

Twenty-nine patients underwent clinical, hormonal, endoscopic, and cytogenetic studies to determine the cause of primary amenorrhea or delayed sexual development. In 19 of them (mean age 17.6 years), the X chromosome was either missing or anomalous. In ten patients (mean age 25.5 years), the chromosomal complement was normal, 46 XX in six patients and 46 XY in four patients. Those with abnormal chromosomal complements were shorter (mean height, 141.9 cm) than patients with normal complements (158.7 cm). Somatic stigmas were observed more frequently in patients with chromosomally abnormal primary gonadal failure. In 23 patients (79.3%), the gonads were streaks, with fibrous stroma devoid of either follicles or tubules containing germ cells. In three patients the ovaries were hypoplastic, with few primordial follicles. Gonadoblastoma was present in two patients with XY and mixed XX/X/XY gonadal dysgenesis. In every patient with streak gonads and lack of germ cells, serum gonadotropin levels were elevated. Karyotype, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) assays, and eventually laparoscopy and gonadal biopsy are important in the management of patients with primary gonadal failure.

Turner syndrome resulting from partial deletion of Y chromosome short arm: localization of male determinants

Chromosome studies performed because of the possibility of Turner syndrome in an infant girl with pedal edema and mild neck webbing revealed an XY karyotype. Subsequent exploratory laparotomy showed dysplastic ovaries with nests of germ cells with the morphologic features of gonadoblastoma. Repeat chromosome studies from peripheral blood using high-resolution techniques, and also from skin and ovarian fibroblasts, showed an XY karyotype but with a partial deletion of the Y short arm, which was not detected with standard techniques. These findings indicate that testis determining factors are located in this deleted region of the Y chromosome but that other gene(s) remain that induce gonadoblastoma.

Incidence of double minutes, cytogenetic equivalents of gene amplification, in human carcinoma cells

Screening of the occurrence of double minutes (DM) was performed in more than 1,000 metaphases obtained from a total of 22 solid human breast tumours and more than 3,600 metaphases from a total of 55 malignant effusions (45 patients with different types of carcinomas). DM were observed in 15 of these breast tumor cases and in 34 of the effusions (obtained from 29 cancer patients). The percentage of cells exhibiting DM as well as the number of DM per respective cell varied widely. It could be seen that metastatic cells from malignant effusions exhibited on the average more DM per cell than did cells of primary breast carcinomas. Differences in the incidence of DM could be observed between different carcinomas as well as between different age groups. In addition, it did not appear that DM could be induced by mutagenic tumor therapy. DM are thus not a rare finding in human solid tumors but, as cytogenetic equivalents of gene amplification, they rather represent a fundamental biological characteristic of tumor development.

The epidemiology of ovarian cancer

Although no unequivocally effective ovarian cancer prevention strategies have emerged, epidemiologic studies have identified high-risk populations. The striking international variation (apparently a fivefold difference) can probably be explained on the basis of differential parity, differing classification measures, and differences in the underlying population age distribution. United States age-adjusted mortality has increased slightly in the past 30 years, and the cancer remains predominantly a disease of older adult white women of northern European extraction. The increases in age-specific mortality and age-adjusted mortality over time may be related to a decrease in average family size. Pregnancy, especially pregnancy before age 25 years, and use of oral contraceptives are protective; the risk of ovarian cancer increases with increasing years of ovulation. A positive family history is also associated with a substantial increase in ovarian cancer risk. Survivors of ovarian cancer are more susceptible to cancers of the breast, endometrium, and colon than are similarly-aged normal women, most probably because all four cancers share some common risk factor(s). Various alkylating agents are clearly leukemogenic in survivors of ovarian cancer, an observation that suggests caution in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy in women at relatively low risk of relapse.

Translocation 1;7 in dyshematopoiesis: possibly induced with a nonrandom geographic distribution

Eight patients with various hematologic disorders had an identical chromosomal aberration in their bone marrow or unstimulated peripheral blood, a translocation t(1;7) interpreted as t(1;7)(p11;p11). The translocation chromosome replaced one normal chromosome #7; therefore, the karyotype of the abnormal cells was trisomic for 1q and monosomic for 7q. Including four cases from the literature, a total of 12 patients (4 women, 8 men) with this translocation are known at the moment. The translocation does not seem to be associated with a specific disorder, but almost all patients had a preleukemic syndrome during some stage of their disease. It is very remarkable that 11 of the 12 patients lived in the Netherlands, and 7 patients had a history of iatrogenic exposure to alkylating agents or irradiation; one patient was a radiation worker and another one had a history of toxic exposure to chloramphenicol. It is suggested, therefore, that the t(1;7) is a possibly induced chromosomal aberration with a clearly nonrandom geographic distribution.

Cytogenetics of a cell line derived from an ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma

The cell line OAW 42 was established from the ascites of a patient with papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary. Cytogenetic analysis at three different passages showed that the line was hypotetraploid, with no distinct mode, and was characterized by 14 stable markers, involving chromosomes #1, #3, #4, #5, #12, #17, #18, #20, and #21. Neither component of the translocation t(6;14)(q21;q24), previously reported to characterize ovarian papillary serous cystadenocarcinoma, was found.

Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry

Ninety-four families totaling 201 cases are reported in this first report of the Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry. The results of the Registry and future studies are presented.

Ovarian dysplasia. A study of identical twins

The normal, identical twin sisters of patients who had been the subjects of ovarian cancer were subjected to prophylactic oophorectomy after the menopause. The finding of epithelial abnormality suggests a precancerous change similar to other genital epithelial dysplasia.

Persistence of chromosome rearrangements in peripheral lymphocytes from patients treated with melphalan for ovarian carcinoma

Chromosome aberrations were studied in peripheral lymphocytes from 50 patients treated with melphalan against ovarian carcinoma. The chromosome analyses were carried out 4-132 months (mean 57 months) after the end of melphalan therapy. Most of the patients were studied several times during four years. The mean frequency of cells with chromosome and chromatid aberrations was 5.4% in the patients and 2.3% in an untreated control group. The highest aberration frequency (average 18%) was found in a patient who later developed gastric carcinoma. The dominating types of aberrations in the patients were chromosome exchanges occurring as single marker chromosomes or as multiple chromosome rearrangements. These types of aberrations were found in only 0.3% of the control cells as compared to 3.8% of the patient cells. Patients with a high total dose of melphalan (above 420 mg) and a long duration of the therapy (average 22.5 months) had a higher frequency of cells with aberrations (6.3%) than patients with a lower total dose (below 420 mg) and a shorter therapy (12 months) (4.2%). No additive effect of radiation therapy was observed on the aberration frequency.

[Genetic epidemiology study of ovarian cancer. I. A comparison of familial and population frequencies]

The frequency of several kinds of cancer among relatives of 200 patients with ovarian cancer was analysed. The annual population incidence was used as a control. Nonrandom familial clustering of ovarian cancer (p less than 0.01) was observed. The frequency of breast cancer in women and that of eosophagal cancer in man was higher than the expected value (p less than 0.05). The risk of ovarian cancer occurrence amounted 9% in women of the first degree of relationship, whereas cumulative risk in a population only reached 1.57% to the age of 90. The patterns of distribution of patients in the pedigrees satisfied the requirements of the multifactorial model. Heritability coefficient was 54.12 +/- 2.49%. Thus, women of the first degree of relationship compose the high risk group.

An ultrastructural study of ovarian development in the otu7 mutant of Drosophila melanogaster

Females homozygous for the otu7 allele produce ovarian tumours, as well as egg chambers that reach a relatively late stage of development. Mutant ovarian nurse cells contain giant polytene chromosomes. These are transcriptionally active, and RNA is transported to the oocyte through ring canals, although at reduced rate. Vitellogenic oocytes are endocytotically active. Protein (alpha yolk) spheres are formed, but glycogen (beta yolk) spheres were never seen in the ooplasm. Follicle cells migrate normally and secrete more vitelline membrane and chorion than is required to cover the slowly growing oocyte. Specialized follicle cells also secrete relatively normal dorsal appendages. The micropylar cone is secreted by another cluster of specialized follicle cells called border cells. These are out of phase with the oocyte, and the forming micropylar cone prevents the nurse cells from passing the remainder of their cytoplasm to the oocyte. The result is a morphologically abnormal chamber blocked at the p-12 stage. Sections through the micropylar cone of a p-12 chamber demonstrated that one of the border cells formed a projection containing a bundle of microtubules. Secretions of the border cells were deposited against this tube, which later degenerates or is withdrawn. Normally this results in a canal, the micropyle, through which the sperm enters the egg. The slowed growth of the mutant oocyte presumably results from a defect in the transport of fluids or charged molecules to it, and the otu+ gene is therefore believed to play a vital role in this process.

Somatic activation of rasK gene in a human ovarian carcinoma

A tumor isolate from a patient with serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary contained an activated rasK gene detected hy transfection of NIH/3T3 cells. In contrast, DNA from normal cells of the same patient lacked transforming activity, indicating that activation of this transforming gene was the consequence of somatic mutation in the neoplastic cells. The transforming gene product displayed an electrophoretic mobility in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels that differed from the mobilities of rasK transforming proteins in other tumors, indicating that a previously undescribed mutation was responsible for activation of rasK in this ovarian carcinoma.

The origin of ovarian teratomas

Chromosome and enzyme markers have been studied in 21 benign ovarian teratomas from 14 patients. Markers heterozygous in the patient were completely homozygous in 52% of the teratomas and completely heterozygous in 19%. The remainder showed a mixture of the two, 10% having homozygous centromeres with some heterozygous enzyme markers and 19% having heterozygous centromeres and some homozygous enzyme markers. These results suggest that benign ovarian teratomas in the present series arise from germ cells in a number of different ways. Those with heterozygous centromeres probably arise by failure of meiosis I. Some tumours with homozygous centromeres must arise by failure of meiosis II, but because of the low level of heterozygous enzyme markers in this group a substantial number are thought to arise by duplication of a mature ovum to give an entirely homozygous genotype, genetically the female equivalent of the complete hydatidiform mole.

Cellular DNA content--a stable feature in epithelial ovarian cancer

Detailed flow cytometric analysis of cellular DNA content was performed on neoplastic tissue from 33 patients with malignant common epithelial ovarian tumours in order to investigate the intratumoral stability of ploidy and proliferative fraction. There was a remarkable stability, both spatial and temporal, in the DNA pattern for any particular tumour. Of 24 tumours that were analysed in multiple areas tumour ploidy was found to be a stable marker in all but 3 cases where regional variations were evident. In 9 patients serial analyses were performed on tumour obtained either at initial diagnosis (6 patients) or second look laparotomy (3 patients) and then some time later (7-17 months) at relapse or death and in all cases the tumour ploidy remained unchanged. In addition, 10 ovarian carcinomas established in nude mice have maintained a DNA content during serial passage similar to that of the original implanted tumour. In contrast in 50% of tumours that were evaluable for S-phase analysis we demonstrated a considerable intratumoral variability in the S-phase fraction. We conclude that cellular DNA content is a stable feature of ovarian carcinoma while S-phase fraction is commonly subject to intratumoral variation.

Cytologic evidence for gene amplification in methotrexate-resistant cells obtained from a patient with ovarian adenocarcinoma

To analyze if methotrexate (MTX) resistance arises from gene amplification in a patient treated clinically with MTX, the cytogenetic and drug sensitivity profile of the tumor colony forming units (TCFUs) from a 58-year-old woman with stage III well-differentiated ovarian serous adenocarcinoma was studied. This patient had not received treatment directed against her tumor for nine months before this study, but had received oral-dose MTX (2.5 mg, twice weekly) for three years for the treatment of psoriasis. Analysis of TCFUs grown in nucleoside-free media demonstrated MTX resistance at concentrations of up to 100 micrograms/mL (2.2 X 10(-4)M). Cytologic evidence for dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene amplification in TCFUs was determined by in situ hybridization, using radiolabeled cDNA to DHFR mRNA. Results localized the DHFR sequences to an abnormally staining region present on chromosome 4q. This study supports the notion that alterations in gene dosage (that is, gene amplification) play a role in the development of drug resistance in spontaneous human cancers.

Cytogenetic studies in ovarian cancer

Cytogenetic studies of ovarian cancer have been conducted in the Medicine Branch, NCI, National Institutes of Health for 5 years. A total of 72 patients were studied by direct preparation and/or 1- to 3-day short-term culture of ascites (86 samples), pleural fluid (4 samples), and tumor (2 samples). Repeat examinations (1-24 months later) were performed in 7 of the 72 patients. Forty-four patients (62%) were successfully analyzed with banding techniques: 6 patients had adenocarcinoma, 7 had serous adenocarcinoma, 13 had serous papillary adenocarcinoma, 7 had serous papillary cystadenocarcinoma, 2 had mucinous adenocarcinoma, 6 had undifferentiated or poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, 1 had clear cell adenocarcinoma, and 2 were not classified. Of these 44 patients, 29 had received prior chemotherapy, 14 were untreated, and in 1 patient the treatment status was unknown. Aneuploidy was observed in all patients and there was considerable variation in the chromosome numbers (even within single samples), often ranging from diploidy to triploidy to tetraploidy. All 44 patients had numerical abnormalities and 39 had structural abnormalities. The chromosomes most frequently involved in structural abnormalities (in decreasing order according to the number of patients involved) were #1, #3, #2, #4, #9, #10, #15, #19, #6, and #11; the least involved chromosomes were #21 and #5. Clone formation and the number of chromosomes involved in structural abnormalities increased with duration of disease and were more extensive in patients treated with chemotherapy than in patients treated with surgery alone. Our data did not show a deletion of chromosome #6 (6q-) to be specific for ovarian cancer.

Gonadoblastoma in a patient with an isodicentric X chromosome

Although gonadoblastoma is known to be associated with the presence of a Y chromosome, this case report of a 15-year-old patient with gonadal dysgenesis, gonadoblastoma, and an idic(Xq-) chromosome provides evidence for the occurrence of gonadoblastoma even in the absence of a Y chromosome. A review of previous cases reported to have gonadoblastoma in the absence of a Y chromosome revealed that the presence of some breast development was the common denominator among those patients. Therefore, a patient who presents with gonadal dysgenesis with some breast development, but lacks a Y chromosome may observe as close scrutiny as the patient with gonadal dysgenesis in the presence of a Y chromosome.

[Cytogenetic studies of multiple ovarian dermoid cysts in a single host]

To investigate the pathogenesis of gonadal teratoma, sixteen ovarian dermoid cysts obtained from four patients were examined by using chromosomal Q and R heteromorphisms, HLA antigens and enzyme polymorphisms of phosphoglucomutase-1 and esterase-D. The results obtained were as follows: 1) Karyotypes of 16 tumors were 46,XX. 2) In thirteen tumors, chromosomal heteromorphisms were homozygous for the homologous chromosomes, being heterozygous in the hosts. In 9 of them, all gene markers analyzed were also homozygous, but in the remaining 4 tumors some gene markers showed heterozygous combination. These findings indicate that these 13 tumors arose from a germ cell after the first meiotic division by suppression of the second meiotic division or by fusion of polar body II with the oocyte. 3) In three tumors, chromosomal heteromorphisms showed heterozygous patterns as in the hosts. In 2 of them, some gene markers were homozygous, and in the remaining one tumor the gene markers were all heterozygous. These findings suggest that these three tumors arose from a germ cell before the first meiotic division. It is concluded that multiple ovarian dermoid cysts in a single host originate from different germ cells with diverse mechanisms.

Determinants of ovarian cancer risk. I. Reproductive experiences and family history

Reproductive experiences and family history were assessed in 215 white females with epithelial ovarian cancer and in 215 control women matched by age, race, and residence. Pregnancy exerted a strong protective effect against ovarian cancer, which increased with the number of live-born children. After adjustment for parity, an effect of age at first live birth and breast-feeding was not apparent. Menstrual events did not differ significantly between cases and controls, although cases were more likely to have had an earlier menopause and less likely to have had a surgical menopause. Women with ovarian cancer had more frequently used menopausal hormones in cyclic fashion compared to controls. Regarding family history, women with ovarian cancer more frequently reported consanguinity in their ancestry and a highly frequency of primary relatives with cancer of the colon, lung, ovary, and prostate gland.

An ovarian cancer family: clinical and cytogenetic data

A family with five ovarian neoplasms in three subsequent generations was studied. Four women had ovarian cancer at age 38, 40, 47, and 53, and one had cystoma ovari at 24. There were other neoplasms and preneoplastic lesions in this family. Several developmental anomalies were revealed, and one of them (a tooth anomaly) may be associated with ovarian tumors. Cytogenetic studies have been carried out on six of the living relatives, including two treated for ovarian neoplasms. The incidence of spontaneous chromosome aberrations was not significantly increased in each of these cases. Polymorphism of constitutive heterochromatin regions was observed in all six individuals. The possible type of inheritance of the ovarian cancer, the significance of the tooth anomaly, and the constitutive heterochromatin polymorphism as cancer markers in this family are discussed.

Genetic epidemiology of breast cancer and associated cancers in high-risk families. I. Segregation analysis

Genetic and environmental hypotheses that might explain the patterns of occurrence of breast cancer and associated cancers in 18 large families at high risk of the disease were tested with the use of segregation analysis. For 16 pedigrees, results were consistent with the hypothesis that breast cancer has a genetic etiology. In 2 other families, breast cancer appeared more likely to have an environmental origin. Breast cancer susceptibility is best explained by hypotheses that postulate autosomal dominant susceptibility alleles in 10 families with primarily premenopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer, in 4 families with primarily postmenopausal breast cancer, and in 2 families with breast cancer, brain tumor, sarcoma, leukemia, and adrenocortical carcinoma in children and young adults. In an accompanying paper, genetic susceptibility in the first 2 groups of families is further explored with the use of linkage analysis.

Genetic epidemiology of breast cancer and associated cancers in high-risk families. II. Linkage analysis

Chromosomal locations of hypothetical alleles which increase susceptibility to human breast cancer in some families were investigated by genetic linkage analysis. In 7 families with primarily premenopausal breast cancer and (in 5 families) ovarian cancer, a dominant susceptibility allele may be linked to the genetic marker glutamicpyruvic transaminase or alanine aminotransferase (GPT; lod score 1.95 at zero recombination). The most positive lod score for linkage to a recessive susceptibility allele was for acid phosphatase (ACP; lod score 0.78 at 40% recombination), but ACP was informative in ony 1 family. In 3 families with primarily postmenopausal breast cancer, none of 21 genetic markers provided any evidence for linkage to either dominant or recessive susceptibility alleles. In the families with the possible GPT linkage, women who carry the hypothetical susceptibility allele would be at high risk of breast cancer, whereas their relatives who do not carry that allele would have no increased risk. GPT genotype is not associated with breast cancer risk in the general population, so GPT linkage cannot be used as a screening test for breast cancer.

The X linked recessive form of XY gonadal dysgenesis with a high incidence of gonadal germ cell tumours: clinical and genetic studies

Five phenotypic females in one family had the genotype 46,XY and all had gonadal germ cell tumours. Studies of the family pedigree suggest that this form of XY gonadal dysgenesis is inherited in an X linked recessive manner. G banding of elongated metaphase chromosomes from two subjects with XY gonadal dysgenesis and a female carrier showed no aberrations of the X chromosome. The titres of H-Y antigen in three girls with XY gonadal dysgenesis were in the male control range. Thus it appears that, in the X linked form, XY gonadal dysgenesis may be caused by a point deletion or mutation of a gene on the X chromosome, which controls the gonad specific receptor for the H-Y antigen. Studies of Xg blood groups were uninformative about linkage of Xg with the X borne gene causing the XY gonadal dysgenesis. Dermatoglyphic studies in the girls with XY gonadal dysgenesis and female carriers revealed high a-b palmar ridge counts and a tendency for the A mainline to terminate in the thenar area. Both of these features have been described in patients with Turner's syndrome.

Chromosome changes in early gynecologic malignancies

Chromosome changes characteristic of fully invasive neoplasms were found in direct preparations from a noninvasive ovarian carcinoma and three carcinomas in situ of the cervix uteri, two of which showed early stromal invasion. Abnormal chromosomes present included structurally changed chromosomes 6 and an isochromosome for the long arm of chromosome 17 (in the ovarian carcinoma and one carcinoma in situ), chromosomes 1 with long arm deletions (in two carcinomas in situ) and double minute chromatin bodies (in one of two metaphases obtained from the third carcinoma in situ). A chromosome of uncertain origin with a homogeneously staining region was also present in the ovarian carcinoma.

Familial benign cystic teratomata

A family with benign cystic teratomata in three successive generations is described. Other familial occurrences of these tumors have been reported; but not in three generations. Familial occurrence suggests an inherited characteristic for parthenogenic development and the occurrence of teratomata in twins and triplets supports the theory of a parthenogenic etiology. Benign cystic teratomata may, therefore, be tumors whose origin is genetically controlled.

Application of the ovarian teratoma mapping method in the mouse

Murine ovarian teratomas were used to determine recombination percentages for gene-gene and centromere-gene intervals. Data were obtained utilizing a recombinant inbred strain, LTXBJ, and a number of newly developed LT/SvEi congenic strains.--Centromere-gene recombination was measured at 11.3 +/- 1.2% for the centromere of chromosome 7 - Gpi-1 interval and 15.8 +/- 2.4% for the centromere of chromosome 14 - Np-1 interval using the ovarian teratoma method. The centromere - Np-1 interval was measured at 26.5 +/- 3.6% using a standard backcross involving the Rb6Bnr Robertsonian translocation as a centromere marker.--To assess the accuracy of the ovarian teratoma mapping method, we compared the recombination frequency obtained for the Mpi-1-Mod-1 interval on chromosome 9 using the ovarian teratoma method to that obtained using a standard backcross. The recombination percentage was 22.9 +/- 5.4 using the ovarian teratoma method and 18.6 +/- 3.3 using the backcross method, indicating that the two methods produce equivalent estimates of recombination. In addition, for centromere-gene intervals known to be more than 30 cM in length, the ovarian teratoma method was consistent with classical recombination methods, yielding high recombination percentages. We conclude from these results that the ovarian teratoma mapping method is a reliable method for estimating recombination frequencies and the most accurate method available for estimating centromere-gene recombination frequency in the mouse.

Tumor progression studied by analysis of cellular features of serial ascitic ovarian carcinoma tumors

Seven consecutive ascitic tumors were obtained over a 9-month period from a patient with serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. The tumor cell populations were analyzed for cellular proliferation (labeling index, agar clonogenicity, and self-renewal capacity), for cell differentiation (cell surface expression of carcinoembryonic antigen and histochemical stain for fat accumulation), and for karyotypic changes. Evidence is presented of increased aggressiveness of proliferative features together with a decreasing proportion of cells with differentiated features. Parallel temporal changes were documented in density-volume characteristics of the tumor cell population, from small, high-density to large, low-density cells. The only karyotypic change identified over this period was the loss of one X-chromosome and the increased frequency of cells containing double minute bodies. The progressive characteristics described in this human tumor are not, therefore, associated with gross chromosomal changes. The accumulation of double minute chromosome bodies may be associated with a low-dose methotrexate exposure or with the tumor progression.

[Establishment and characterization of human ovarian endometrioid carcinoma cell line]

Ascitic fluid was obtained from the patient of ovarian endometrioid cancer. Collected cells were incubated with Eagle's MEM containing 15% fetal calf serum at 37 degrees C under humidified 5% CO2 and 95% air. The epithelial colonies grew rapidly and were released without fibroblast cells. After the first passage, the cells are growing without interruption for over one year and 35 transfer generations. This cell line has following charactors: 1) The monolayer cultured cells appeared epithelial, pavement like arrangement and piling up, without contact inhibition. 2) In the cytoplasma PAS positive substance can be seen. 3) Desmosome-like structure, gap junction, microvilli and well developed cell organelles can be found by electron microscopy. 4) Chromosomal number shows pseudodiploidy which mode is 47. A submetacentric chromosome was present in all karyotype and identified by G-banding. It consists of No. 11 and a part of No. 1. 5) By heterotransplantation to the nude athymic mouse, the tumor easily develops. 6) By estradiol and promegestone its growth was inhibited. 7) Estrogen and progesterone receptors were not detected in the cytosol.

Ploidy as a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer

The cellular DNA content of 50 ovarian common epithelial carcinomas was determined by flow cytometry, and tumours were classified as being either diploid or aneuploid. A significant association between tumour stage and ploidy was demonstrated, with all diploid tumours being of an early stage (p less than 0.001). Forty percent of early-stage tumours (FIGO stages I and II) and all late-stage tumours (FIGO stages III and IV) were aneuploid. This heterogeneity with respect to DNA content among tumours of a similar stage may allow the identification of neoplasms with a different natural history. The proportion of S-phase cells determined by flow cytometry is a measure of cellular proliferation and may also be of prognostic significance. Diploid tumours had a median S phase of 9.8% (2.4-14.1%), while aneuploid tumours had a significantly higher S phase of 19.6% (7-24.7%; p less than 0.05). In this study there was no relationship between histological grading of invasive carcinomas and ploidy, but in view of the relatively small numbers and limited follow-up, it was not possible to perform a multivariate analysis of all known prognostic factors in ovarian cancer. Our results suggest that ploidy reflects tumour behaviour, but prolonged follow-up and increased patient accrual is necessary to assess whether the flow cytometric analysis of DNA content will provide clinically important information in ovarian cancer.

Diverse origins of multiple ovarian teratomas in a single individual

Centromere heteromorphisms and enzyme markers were examined in cells cultured from seven benign ovarian teratomas arising in a single patient. Three of the teratomas were homozygous for all eight enzyme and centromere markers found to be heterozygous in the host. The other four tumors were heterozygous at the centromeres of chromosomes 1, 16, 17, and 18, as in the patient, but were homozygous for at least one of the enzyme markers. The linkage phases of the heterozygous enzyme markers phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase 1 and the chromosome 1 centromere heteromorphism were established for the patient and for three of the heterozygous teratomas by analysis of Chinese hamster-human somatic cell hybrids. The linkage phase of these markers in homozygous and heterozygous tumors was in every case different from that in the host. The finding of heterozygous centromeres in ovarian teratomas excludes suppression of meiosis II as a mechanism for their origin, and we suggest rather that they arise by failure of meiosis I. The linkage phases in the fully homozygous tumors are most readily derived from that in the patient, we suggest, by endoreduplication of a haploid gamete. The varied origin of ovarian teratomas has important implications for the suitability of such material for centromere-based gene mapping.

Intra-abdominal carcinomatosis after prophylactic oophorectomy in ovarian-cancer-prone families

Prophylactic oophorectomy was performed in 28 female members of 16 families at high risk of ovarian carcinoma. 3 of these women subsequently developed disseminated intra-abdominal malignancy; there was uncertainty about the primary site despite extensive investigation. These tumours were indistinguishable histopathologically from ovarian carcinoma. It would seem that in cancer-prone families the susceptible tissue is not limited to the ovary, but includes other derivatives of the coelomic epithelium, from which primary peritoneal neoplasms may arise.

Surveillance and management of patients at high genetic risk for ovarian carcinoma

The present study is concerned with surveillance/management programs for hereditary ovarian cancer syndromes. These syndromes lack distinguishing premonitory physical signs or biomarkers; therefore, in these genotypic settings, ovarian cancer risk must be assessed by analysis of the patient's pedigree. The authors describe 10 families showing a hereditary proclivity to ovarian carcinoma and/or associated cancer(s) in accord with their respective cancer-prone genotypes. Cancer education, genetic counseling, and surveillance should be instituted early. In addition to bimanual pelvic examination, ultrasound should be tested for its possible efficacy as a screening technique. The option of prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy is thoroughly discussed with highly selected candidates. The authors believe that the aggressive management approach proposed for ovarian carcinoma is warranted for high-risk members of cancer-prone families, wherein the risk for ovarian cancer may approach 50%.