LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY IN MALIGNANT-MELANOMA AT LOCI ON CHROMOSOME-11AND CHROMOSOME-17 IMPLICATED IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF OTHER CANCERS

Forty-six cases of sporadic melanoma have been investigated for loss o f heterozygosity at 4 loci: D11S29 (11q23), YNZ22 (17p13.3), TP53 (17p l3.1); and NM23 (17q22). Each of the loci is thought to be important i n the pathogenesis of other tumours. Mutations were found infrequently at the YNZ22, NM23, and TPS3 loci. At D11S29, however, the frequency of mutation in the melanoma samples was high (67%) and mutations at th is locus were associated with younger age at presentation. This region of chromosome 11 is also commonly mutated in breast cancers and haema tological malignancies. Genetic aberrations at D11S29 may therefore re present nonspecific mutations found in several malignancies or part of a pathway common to the malignant phenotype. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc .