Detection of trisomy 7 with fluorescence in situ hybridization and its correlation with DNA content and proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positivity in prostate cancer.

The authors applied fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), using specific DNA probes for chromosome 7, to routine paraffin-embedded tissue sections obtained from 35 radical-prostatectomy specimens. Proliferative activity was also evaluated using static cytometry to assess DNA content and immunohistochemistry for proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) positivity. These results were correlated with each other and with the morphologic parameters. The presence of three or more of chromosome 7 was observed in 71% of the cases, as was a high S phase, with a triploid prevalent DNA content and a PCNA index above mean value in 66% of the cases. No correlation was detected between these findings and histologic grade; conversely, there was a significant correlation with stage (chi-square = 5.33; p = 0.021). From these results, the authors maintain that the presence of an extra chromosome 7-correlated in most cases with an increase in cell kinetics and an advanced stage-may be an additional prognostic marker of aggressive behavior.