RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A diverse range of cytogenetic alterations of autosomal chromosomes has been reported to date. However, few studies have addressed the abnormalities of X chromosome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) except sporadic reports on the deletion of band F1 in X chromosome, and the clonal analysis of methylation pattern of the X chromosome-linked human androgen receptor gene. Identification of specific X chromosome alterations during the course of neoplastic development would be essential to defining the genetic basis of HCC. Therefore, we studied the regularity of aberration of X chromosome in liver cancer. METHODS: Hepatocarcinoma cellular lines and tumor tissues were detected respectively through DNA probes of X chromosome after fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). RESULTS: Increased copies of X chromosome were observed in all samples, and four signals of hybridization were of the major type. CONCLUSIONS: Increased copy number of X chromosome frequently occur in liver cancer. The relationship between copy number of X chromosome and liver cancer genesis needs further investigation. This study is the first of its kind determining the copy number of X chromosome in liver cancer by using FISH.