Acquired Ring Chromosomes in Solid Tumors

In human solid tumors, the occurrence of acquired ring chromosomes (aRCs) is a rare and sometimes secondary finding typically detected during chromosomal analysis. This chapter provides a summary of the prevalence of aRCs across various tumor sites in human solid tumors, as reported in the Mitelman database from 1971 to 2023. aRC aberrations exhibit specificity for certain tumor types, especially in bone and soft tissue tumors. Specific molecular consequences of aRCs, such as gene fusion, amplification, or deletion of oncogenes or tumor-suppressor genes, are reported for specific tumor types. However, some tumor types exhibit a high prevalence of aRCs but have not been thoroughly investigated due to the poor quality of banding in malignant cells from solid tumors. Therefore, further investigation into the formation and potential role of aRCs in tumor formation and progression could provide valuable insights into the diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment management of solid tumors.