14.4.3 Kariotype of donor and recipient

Several reports on transmitted malignancies have relied totally or partially on the investigation of a kariotype mismatch between the tumour cells with respect to that of the recipient for assessing attributability. This strategy is obviously limited to those cases where a gender mismatch exists between the donor and the recipient. Careful attention should be paid to the interpretation of results and accurate molecular diagnosis might be necessary as tumour cells might lose their kariotype and express a different one. The interphase Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) for sex chromosomes has been used in these situations.