engleski

Variability of constitutive heterochromatin of chromosome 1, 9 and 16 in 57 children with solid tumors and 64 controls

Several studies point to an association of variable heterochromatic segments of chromosomes 1, 9 and 16 and malignant diseases. Investigations carried out so far have mostly dealt with populations of adult patients, whereas studies in children with solid tumours are rare. In this study, variability of constitutive heterochromatin of chromosome 1, 9 and 16 was analysed in 57 children with solid tumors (of those 20 with neuroblastoma and 19 with nephroblastoma) and in 64 healthy controls. The aim of this investigation was to determine the correlations between the quantitative changes and the changes in the distribution of constitutive heterochromatin and the malignant process in children. The analysis was carried out on slides obtained by routine method of peripheral blood culture and stained for C-banding. The quantitative variability of constitutive heterochromatin of chromosome 1, 9 and 16 was determined by objective method of linear measuring. C-segment length was expressed in relative units as a relation of the C-band length and the length of the short arm of chromosome 16. Significant differences between two groups were found in C-band size of chromosome 1, 9 and 16, but no difference in inversion frequency was, however, observed. This data might indicate a possible relationship between the amount of constitutive heterochromatin on chromosome 1, 9 and 16 and malignant transformation in children with solid tumors. This investigation established quantitative differences and difference in frequency of localization variants between specific histologic types of tumor. The analysis revealed significantly higher amount of C-heterochromatin on chromosome 9, and increased frequency of C-segment inversions in the group of 20 children with neuroblastoma as compared to 19 children with nefroblastoma. Additional study are, however necessary in order to substantiate these preliminary results.

Solid tumours; children; heterochromatin

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