Pattern of chromosomal imbalances in non-B virus related hepatocellular carcinoma detected by comparative genomic hybridization.

Only limited data are available on comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). They concern mainly B virus related HCC. Therefore, we used CGH to detect chromosomal imbalances in 16 non-B virus related HCC in alcoholic cirrhosis in 7 cases (HA1 to HA7), in C virus cirrhosis in 7 cases (HC1 to HC7), in non-cirrhotic liver in 2 cases (NC1, NC2), and in 9 non-malignant cirrhotic tissues. The most frequent imbalances in HCC were gains of whole chromosomes or chromosomal regions 7 or 7q (10/16, 62%), 1q (9/16, 56%), 5 or 5q (9/16, 56%), 8q (8/16, 50%), 6p (6/16, 37%), 15q (5/16, 31%), 20 or 20q (5/16, 31%), and losses of 17p (6/16, 37%), and 8p (5/16, 31%). High-level gains were identified in HCC on 1q (2/16), 3q (1/16), 7q (1/16), and 8q (3/16). No chromosomal imbalances were detected in any of the cirrhotic tissues. Most of the gains, losses, and amplifications detected in this CGH study corresponded well to those identified in previous studies, except for gains of whole chromosome 5 or 7 and/or of chromosome arms 5q or 7q and losses on 4q. Our results suggest that other chromosomal regions are involved in hepatocarcinogenesis.