Nonrandom chromosome alterations in human malignant mesothelioma.

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a neoplasm closely associated with asbestos exposure, which has been implicated in 70-80% of the cases. In this study, nine MM (two fresh surgical specimens, two permanent cell lines, and five xenografts in nude mice) were examined cytogenetically. Six patients had a known history of asbestos exposure. Seven MM were chromosomally abnormal, the majority having complex structural alterations affecting different...