Benign and malignant epithelial tumors of the gastroenteric tract. Chromosome analysis in study and diagnosis

The authors have carried out direct chromosome analysis on cells obtained from benign and malignant epithelial solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and especially on adenomatous polyps in relation to their carcinomatous evolution. A normal diploid karyotype was found in the earliest adenomatous polyps. In adenomatous polyps undergoing carcinomatous transformation, at both early and advanced stages and in the primitive carcinomatous forms, extensive alterations of the karyotype linked with cellular malignancy have been found. These karyotype alterations, represented by morphologic and numerical alterations, are extremely irregular and not strictly related to the site and the degree of diffusion of neoplasia. The authors are in favor of cytogenetic analysis in the study and diagnosis of such neoplastic lesions, especially those undergoing initial carcinomatous transformation and those thought to be in a stage of transition to malignancy.