Significance of the choice of tissue culture technique on the chromosomal patterns in human mixed salivary gland tumors.

Cytogenetic observations by banding methods in 56 new cases of human benign pleomorphic adenomas are reported. Thirty of the cases (series I) were studied in preparations from primary cultures established from cells growing out from mechanically dispersed tumor pieces. The remaining 26 cases (series II) were analyzed in preparations from primary cultures established from enzymatically pretreated material. The use of the latter method resulted in a decrease in the frequency of cases with a normal stemline from about 53% to about 19%. However, the general characteristics of the aberrations observed in abnormal stemlines in both series agreed well. The minor differences observed consisted of a higher frequency of recurrent t(3;8)(p21;q12) in series II and, in the same series, fewer cases showing an involvement of 8q or 12q. The present results emphasize the importance of molecular studies of, in particular, the regions 8q12, 12q13-15, and 3p21.