Chromosomal analysis of sixteen human rhabdomyosarcomas.

Chromosomal analysis of 16 rhabdomyosarcomas was done from four primary tumors and from 12 tumors after nude mouse passage. Seven tumors were alveolar; four of these had t(2;13)(q37;q14) and in two tumors it was the only structural abnormality. The other three alveolar tumors were near tetraploid with marker chromosomes and double minutes. In the nine embryonal tumors studied, one had a normal karyotype, and eight were abnormal. Although the eight tumors had no common structural abnormality, trisomy 2 was present in all.