Complete karyotype characterization of the K562 cell line by combined application of G-banding, multiplex-fluorescence in situ hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization, and comparative genomic hybridization.

This study combines conventional cytogenetics, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), multiplex-FISH and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). In applying this multimodal approach on the human leukemia cell line K562, the chromosome composition was refined in detail and compared with data from the literature. A hypotriploid karyotype with a modal chromosome number of 67, and 21 unique marker chromosomes were identified. The classification of six markers was identical to published data and the composition of five further markers from the literature could be fully clarified for the first time. The composition of another five markers, which have been interpreted in divergent ways in dif…