Simultaneous chromosome 1q gain and 16q loss is associated with steroid receptor presence and low proliferation in breast carcinoma.

We applied comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to 46 breast carcinoma samples, collected from 1993 to 1995, in order to detect chromosome 1q gains and 16q losses and to define whether samples showing both these alterations had distinct biopathologic features and different clinical outcome. A total of 22 samples (48%) had simultaneous chromosome 1q gain and 16q loss, which was always associated with other genetic changes. In total, 23 samples had various chromosome imbalances (including chromosome 1q gain independent of chromosome 16q loss and vice versa) and one sample did not show detectable alterations.