We analyzed DNA copy number aberrations (DCNAs) by chromosomal comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) in 93 consecutive sporadic gastric adenocarcinomas. In addition, numerical aberrations in chromosomes 7, 11, 17, and 18 were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Gastric cancers were divided on the basis of nuclear DNA content measured by laser scanning cytometry (LSC) into two groups, 36 DNA diploid (1.0 ≤ DNA index (DI) < 1.2) and 57 aneuploid (DI ≥ 1.2) cancers. The most frequent gain and loss of DNA copy number were found at 8q21-23 and 19p13.3, respectively, in both diploid and aneuploid cancers. Diploid cancers were further divided on the basis of genetic aberrations into major type and subtype cancers. The diploid cancer group included nine subtype cancers that showed large numbers of DCNAs; the mean number of DCNAs detected by CGH was 26.7 per tumor. This value was much larger in these diploid subtype cancers than diploid major type cancers (mean, 5.2 per tumor, p<0.0001). These nine cancers were also characterized by large intercellular variations in chromosome copy numbers that were not detected in the 27 major diploid type cancers. The aneuploid cancer group included only three subtype tumors that showed only a small number of DCNAs (mean, 3 per tumor) and minimal intercellular variations in chromosomal copy number. These data indicate that gastric adenocarcinomas can be divided into three types; aneuploid, major diploid type and diploid subtype cancers. Large-scale studies are necessary to clarify the differences in biological characteristics and underlying genetic mechanisms between these types.

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