Chromosomal instability detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization in surgical specimens of non-small cell lung cancer is associated with poor survival.

PURPOSE: Chromosomal instability (CIN) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has yet to be well studied. We examined the relationship between CIN detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization and survival in patients with NSCLC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Touch preparations from 50 surgical specimens of NSCLC were studied. Tumors included 34 adenocarcinomas, 15 squamous cell carcinomas, and 1 large cell carcinoma. The pathologic stage was IA in 14, IB in 17, IIB in 8, IIIA in 9, and IIIB in 2 cases. Enumeration of chromosomes 3, 10, 11, and 17 was used to determine which tumors carried CIN. The association between CIN and survival was also analyzed. RESULTS: Disomy was most common, but tetrasomy and trisomy of the examined chromosomes were seen frequently. Fourteen tumors (28%) showed heterogeneity of all four chromosomes examined and were judged to be carrying CIN. Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that two factors, lymph node metastasis and CIN, were significant poor prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: CIN in NSCLC detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization is an independent factor predicting a poor prognosis.