Chromosomes in Gynaecological Malignant Tumours

Summary: Chromosome studies of biopsies from 15 patients with carcinomata of the cervix, 5 patients with carcinomata of the corpus uteri and 16 patients with non‐malignant endometria are reported. In the carcinomata of the cervix, the chromosome counts were distributed over a wide range, and were different in each tumour. In contrast, the chromosome counts of the carcinomata of the corpus uteri showed a much smaller range and were nearer to 46. Karyotypes were prepared from several tumours, the majority showing random numerical variations and structural abnormalities. The incidence of polyploid cells was also recorded, and showed a marked increase in the carcinomata of the cervix compared with the carcinomata of the corpus uteri and non‐malignant endometria. No connection was apparent between the chromosome pattern and the histology of each tumour.