Comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) is a newly described molecular-cytogenetic assay that globally assays for chromosomal gains and losses in a genomic complement. In this assay, normal human metaphase chromosomes are competitively hybridized with two differentially labeled genomic DNAs (test and reference), which upon fluorescence microscopy, reveal the chromosomal locations of copy number changes in DNA sequences between the two complements. Application of CGH to DNAs extracted from fresh frozen specimens and cell lines of various tumor types has revealed a number of recurring chromosomal gains and losses that were undetected by traditional cytogenetic analysis. Few previously known sites were found to be in higher copy number, or lost by CGH, while many novel amplified regions were identified. These regions warrant further molecular genetic studies aimed at isolating the perturbed genes. Since CGH can also be performed on DNA extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archived tumor specimens with few modifications, gains and losses of genetic material can be determined for specimens that would otherwise be unanalyzable. Prospective and retrospective application of CGH to tumor specimens would permit correlative studies to be performed, possibly identifying diagnostic and prognostic indicators of disease. CGH may also have a future role in detection and identification of chromosomal abnormalities in prenatal diagnosis and in dysmorphic anomalies.