Patching together the genetics of Gorlin syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Gorlin syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by developmental defects and susceptibility to cancer, especially to basal cell carcinomas. The genetic basis of this disorder has recently been elucidated.


METHODS
In this article previous studies are reviewed in which loss of heterozygosity analysis of tumours and normal tissue pointed to a region on chromosome 9 as being involved in Gorlin syndrome. In this light, Knudson's two-hit model is discussed. The identification of the involvement of the patched gene in Gorlin syndrome is reviewed. New data on genotype-phenotype correlations in the syndrome are presented.


RESULTS
Loss-of-heterozygosity studies, together with standard family studies using linkage analysis, have proved useful in identifying the location of a gene with complex phenotypic expression.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of the two-hit model, as utilized in loss-of-heterozygosity studies, has been very useful in elucidating the genetic basis of Gorlin syndrome. There may be a correlation between certain aspects of the mutations in patched and the clinical presentation of the disorder in families.
Bale
S J
SJ
Genetic Studies Section/LSB/National Institute of Arthritis & Musculoskeletal & Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Falk
R T
RT
Rogers
G R
GR
D001478:Basal Cell Nevus Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D002899:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D010641:Phenotype
D008565:Membrane Proteins