[Possible significance of novel DNA fragments frequently deleted from tumor cell lines of human esophageal cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To disclose the genetic susceptibility and carcinogenesis mechanism of esophageal cancer (EC) through finding out tumor suppressor genes.


METHODS
Twenty EC tissues paired with adjacent normal mucosa and three high-risk EC families were analysed by PCR and Southern blot with DNA probes (12H2, 33B2, and 33B3) frequently deleted from EC cell lines.


RESULTS
In surgical samples, the deletion frequency of the fragment 12H2 was highest, i.e. 61% in EC tissues and 22% in adjacent mucosa. The rate of tumor metastasis to lymph nodes was 45%. For the fragment 33B2, they were 30%, 10% and 50%, respectively. But only 20%, 10% and 25% were of the fragment 33B3. No genetic changes were found in the three high-risk EC families for 12H2 and 33B3. The deletion of 33B2 was seen in the proband of one family.


CONCLUSIONS
The fragments 12H2, 33B2 and 33B3 may be candidates of tumor suppressor genes correlative with progression and metastasis of esophageal cancer.
Department of Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing.
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Hou
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Zheng
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Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured