Loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 14q is associated with poor prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in a chromosomal location indicates the presence of an inactivated tumor suppressor gene (TSG). Inactivation of TSG has a functional role in the tumorigenesis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Based on the recent evidences of a putative TSG on chromosome 14, we examined LOH on chromosome 14q using eight polymorphic microsatellite markers in 50 cases of HNSCCs.


RESULTS
Three regions were detected to have a high LOH rate which included 14q21.2-22.3 (42.5%), 14q31 (55%), and 14q32.1 (37%). The correlation between LOH and clinicopathological findings was investigated through statistical analyses. A strong correlation was observed between the highest LOH marker and the overall and disease-free survival.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that the distal part of chromosome 14 may host a TSG that may lead to the development and/or progression of HNSCCs. Several genes such as CHES1, BMP4, SAV, and PNN have arisen as candidate tumor suppressors in the region.
Pehlivan
Davut
D
Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Shikatacho 2-5-1, Okayama 700-8525, Japan.
Gunduz
Esra
E
Gunduz
Mehmet
M
Nagatsuka
Hitoshi
H
Beder
Levent Bekir
LB
Cengiz
Beyhan
B
Rivera
Rosario S
RS
Fukushima
Kunihiro
K
Palanduz
Sukru
S
Ozturk
Sukru
S
Yamanaka
Noboru
N
Shimizu
Kenji
K
D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002883:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate