CHROMOSOME-11 ALLELE IMBALANCE AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATES IN OVARIAN-TUMORS

Allele imbalance on chromosome 11 loci in ovarian cancer is a frequent event, suggesting the presence of tumour-suppressor genes for ovarian carcinogenesis on this chromosome. Ten highly polymorphic (CA) repeat microsatellites were used to determine allele imbalance in 60 primary ovarian rumours, including 47 epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs). Fort y EOCs (85%) showed allele imbalance at one or more loci, and in 39 of these (83%) the data suggested subchromosomal deletions: eight of lip only; six of 11q only; and 25 of both lip and 11q. Three consensus re gions of deletion were indicated at 11p15.5-p15.3, 11q12-q22 and 11q23 .3-q24.1. Allele imbalance at the 11q subtelomeric region (D11S912) co rrelated significantly with adverse survival, while imbalance at 11q14 .3 and retention of heterozygosity al 11q22 (close to the site of the progesterone receptor gene) were associated with favourable clinicopat hological features. The findings allow development of a preliminary mo del for the molecular evolution of epithelial ovarian cancer.