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Previous Volume 359:722-734 August 14, 2008 Number 7 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Cytogenetic abnormalities are a characteristic attribute of cancer cells. To date, clonal chromosome aberrations have been found in all major tumor types from more than 54,000 patients (http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/Chromosomes/Mitelman), and their identification continues as a result of technical improvements in conventional and molecular cytogenetics. The World Health Organization Classification of Tumours recognizes a growing number of such genetic changes and uses them to define specific disease entities. Many of these aberrations have emerged as prognostic and predictive markers in hematologic cancers and certain types of solid tumors. Furthermore, the molecular characterization of cytogenetic abnormalities has provided insights into the . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Causes of Chromosomal Abnormalities

Chromosomal Rearrangements

Chimeric Fusion Genes

            Tyrosine Kinase Genes

            Transcription Factor Genes

Deregulation of Expression of Normal Genes

Chromosomal Imbalances

Genomic Gains

            Large-Scale Genomic Gains

            Focal Genomic Gains

Genomic Losses

            Large-Scale Genomic Losses

            Genomic Losses Resulting in Allelic Insufficiency

            Genomic Losses Affecting Noncoding Genes

Summary

Source Information

From the Division of Hematology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston (S.F.); and the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (H.D.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Döhner at the Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital of Ulm, Robert Koch Str. 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany, or at hartmut.doehner@uniklinik-ulm.de.

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