Loss of der(3) in renal carcinoma cells of a patient with constitutional t(3;12)

Cytogenetic studies were performed on peripheral lymphocytes, normal kidney cells, and tumor cells of a patient with renal cell carcinoma. Chromosome analysis of normal somatic cells revealed a constitutional t(3;12)(q13.2;q24.1) and a genomic instability involving the derivative chromosome 12. On the other hand, tumor cells were characterized by loss of der(3), supporting the hypothesis that loss of a specific 3p segment is associated with the development of renal cancer.