Protocols are presented for preparation of banded metaphases for cytogenetic analysis from short-term and long-term cultures of ovarian cancer. For short-term cultures (less than 24 hours of culture of freshly dissociated tumor material), prolonged exposure (16-18 hours) to mitotic inhibitors was required for metaphase isolation; shorter exposures to mitotic inhibitors (3-6 hours) were generally sufficient for ovarian cancer cells in culture for days to weeks (long-term cultures).