Cytogenetic and clinicopathological analysis of soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas.

To identify a characteristic cytogenetic aberration and cytogenetic-morphological correlation in soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas, a karyotypic and clinicopathological analysis of 15 cases of leiomyosarcoma was performed. The histological type was classical in nine cases, pleomorphic in three cases and myxoid in three cases. The histological grade was 1 in three cases, 2 in 10 cases and 3 in two cases. Nine of 15 tumors displayed an abnormal karyotype, whereas the other six tumors displayed a normal karyotype. The relative consistency of involvement of 3p, 3q, 6q, 7p, 7q, 9p, 10p, 11p, 11q, 12p, 16q, 17p and 19q was recognized, although characteristic chromosomal rearrangements were not detected. All six tumors that had a normal karyotype were of the classical type, whereas those displaying an abnormal karyotype contained another morphological type along with the classical type. The results of the present study suggest that chromosomal aberrations contribute to morphological changes in soft-tissue leiomyosarcomas.