A Recurrent 19q11–12 Breakpoint Suggested by Cytogenetic and Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Analysis of Three Glioblastoma Cell Lines

Loss of genetic material at chromosome 19 is a rather frequent finding in malignant gliomas. Loss of heterozygosity at region 19q13.3 is common in oligodendrogliomas and is also present, together with other genetic alterations on the same chomosome, in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Here we describe the results of cytogenetic and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis on three GBM cell lines in which a series of complex chromosomal rearrangements affecting chromosome 19 were present. These genetic alterations suggest the presence of a common breakpoint at 19q11–12 which may point to the localization of a fragile site and/or to the presence of tumor suppressor gene(s) in the pericentromeric region of chromosome 19.