Abnormal transcripts of FHIT gene in Chinese brain tumors

FHIT located at chromosome 3p14.2 was discovered and proposed as a candidat e tumor suppressor gene in several cancers. To determine whether the FHIT g ene at 3p14.2 is altered in Chinese brain tumors, we examined 13 brain tumo rs for deletions within FHIT locus. Evaluation of the FHIT gene in the pane l of brain tumors led to a comprehensive mutation analysis. The complete se quence of the FHIT gene was determined and deletions between exon 5-8 were found in all 13 cases. In addition, single point mutation of amino acid fro m two glioblastoma and one atypical meningioma cases and multiple amino aci d mutations from one pituitary tumor were observed. Our results support the hypothesis that FHIT gene alteration is involved in tumorigenic developmen t of human neoplasms.