Coamplification of 12p11 and 12q13 approximately q22 in multiple ring chromosomes in a spindle cell sarcoma resolved by novel multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis.

An 80-year-old male presented with a lobulated mass in the lower abdominal wall. A diagnosis of an intermediate grade myofibroblastic spindle cell sarcoma was made. Cytogenetic analysis demonstrated a complex karyotype with a der(6), a small marker and five, different in size, ring chromosomes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), multiplex FISH, and multicolor banding analysis was used to further delineate this complex karyotype. The der(6) was shown to be a der(18)t(6;18;9;12;18), the marker chromosome was identified as del(17), and the ring chromosomes as r(9) and r(12;18)x4. Amplification of 18 and coamplification of 12p and 12q was detected in the ring and marker chromosomes. No intercellular heterogeneity was observed although a few micronuclei containing chromosome 18 and anaphase bridges, containing chromosome 12 material, the result of bridge-fusion-bridge (BFB) cycles, were observed. Our findings combined with results from others indicate that amplification of chromosomes 12 and 18 as well as BFB phenomena characterize this type of sarcoma.