[Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck].
OBJECTIVE
To identify the frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MI) in Chinese sample of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).


METHODS
18 microsatellite markers were selected and used in the analysis of 30 paired SCCHN for LOH and MI by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
In 30 cases of SCCHN, LOH was identified in 12 cases (40%) with at least 1 marker. The prevalence rate of LOH was 0 to 21%, much lower than those reported for most markers. 7 out of the 18 markers (D7S480, D7S522, D9S162, D9S168, D9S304, D9S171 and D17S520) were identified as significant (P < 0.05). However there was no statistically significant correlation between the LOH at these loci and the clinical parameters such as pathological types, tumor size and lymph-node metastasis. MI occurred in only 4 patients, but no MI could be observed using the common criteria for defining MI in two or more markers.


CONCLUSIONS
The most common LOH at D7S480, D7S522, D9S162, D9S168, D9S304, D9S171 and D17S520 might imply the existence of potential tumor suppressor gene of a subset of SCCHN, while MI might not be a crucial event.
Xiao
L
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Cancer Center, First Affiliatted Hospital, WCUMS, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Luo
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics