Do lymphocytes contain chromosomal lesions that are also stable markers in cancer cells?

The initiation and metastatic progression of human cancers are genetically controlled. We therefore sought to identify specific chromosomal changes associated with the development of a melanoma and its metastasis to the bladder in a 57-year-old Caucasian man by analyzing his lymphocytes and metastatic melanoma cells. Approximately 4% of the patient's PHA-stimulated lymphocytes showed constitutional abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12, 14 and 19. On the other hand, his melanoma cells showed clonal markers involving chromosomes 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17 and 20 plus many more. Our results indicate that both primary chromosome abnormalities and some of the secondary cytogenetic defects of melanoma cells can be identified in lymphocyte cultures and that such abnormalities may be possible markers for early diagnosis and treatment.