Advances in cancer cytogenetics

As the end of the millennium approaches, recognition of the milestones achieved in the field of cancer cytogenetics is mandatory. With regard to cancer cytogenetics, the turning century can be divided in three main era: the pre-banding period that has posed important hypothesis and technical premises, the fruitful banding era that led to the discovery of the critical chromosomal rearrangements and cloning of cancer genes and the more recent revolutionizing era of molecular cytogenetics where technological advances permit a global visualization and high-level resolution of chromosomal alterations.