Translocation t(3;8)(p14.2;q24.1) in renal cell carcinoma affects expression of the common fragile site at 3p14(FRA3B) in lymphocytes.
The common fragile site at 3p14(FRA3B) is cytogenetically close to the positions of translocation and deletion breakpoints frequently observed in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and small cell carcinoma of the lung. Possible involvement of this fragile site in the familial RCC t(3;8)(p14.2;q24.1) was investigated. Expression of FRA3B, induced by treatment of lymphocytes with aphidicolin, is altered by the translocation. These results suggest that the fragile site is very close to, if not coincident with, the translocation breakpoint.