Evolution of Cytogenetic Methods in the Study of Cancer

Cytogenetic methods have not changed greatly over the last 50 years since Nowell and Hungerford’s description of the Philadelphia chromosome but the clinical utility of these methods has evolved dramatically. The multicentre clinical studies that have identified major clinical applications for cytogenetic analysis in different cancers and the development of in situ hybridization have contributed to an explosion in cytogenetic testing for cancer patients.