Mojgan Ataee Kachoui - Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Elahe Keyhani - Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Hamidreza Karbasian - Dept. of Surgery, Atie Hospital, Tehran, Iran
Masud Karimlou - Dept. of Statistics, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Background and Objectives: Breast cancer is the most common cancer amongst Iranian women and worldwide. Unfortunately, the current clinical and histological criteria can only help 60% ofwomen with breast cancer in diagnosis and long-term treatment. Therefore, genetic markers can play an important role in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer patients. The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the role of chromosome 17 copy number assessed byInterphase Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH), as the genetic prognostic parameter.Materials and Methods: Thirty Iranian women, aged 31 to 65 years with sporadic primarybreast carcinoma were studied. Chromosome copy number was evaluated in relation to establishedclinicopathological parameters, the immunohistochemical markers of ER, PR, P53, age and theduration and status of survival in the patients. FISH, using centromeric probe for chromosome 17was applied to interphase cells prepared from paraffin embedded tumor sections. More than 3000cells for chromosome 17 were assessed. Data were analyzed with programs in SPSS 11.5Results: Aneusomy for chromosome 17 was present in all 30 patients to different levels. The totalabnormality rate for chromosome 17 was 57.03%, in which hypodiploidy was more frequent thanhyperdiploidy (2.5 folds). Significant correlation was observed between chromosome 17 aneusomyrate and the stage of breast cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion: Chromosome 17 hypodiploidy alongside other clinical and pathological parameters may be considered as useful prognostic markers in sporadic carcinoma of breast.

Breast cancer, Chromosome 17, Prognosis, Interphase, Iran