A new molecular cytogenetic method in tumor--comparative genomic hybridization

Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a new molecular cytogenetic method developed recently on the basis of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). It has such many advantages as the gain or loss of whole genomic DNA at the levels of total chromosomes and subchromosomes can be analyzed in an experiment, with no restrictions on source of specimens and no need for culture cancer cells and so on. It has been widely used in the detection of various types of tumors and hereditary diseases. The basic, principles and specific procedures of CGH as well as applications to clinical tumors were introduced, and both advantages and shortages were assessed. (author)