SIGNIFICANCE OF CHROMOSOME ARM 14Q LOSS IN NONPAPILLARY RENAL-CELL CARCINOMAS

We examined 88 nonpapillary renal cell carcinomas for allelic loss at chromosome arm 14q and correlated the results to size, grade, and stag e of these tumors. Fourteen highly polymorphic microsatellite markers on the long arm of chromosome 14 were used for deletion mapping. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the smallest overlapping segment of 14q24.2 -qter was seen in 42 of 88 tumors. There was no significant correlatio n between frequency of 14q LOH and size of tumors (P = 0.11). LOH was frequently seen in grade 2 and 3 tumors (55% and 73%, respectively) an d in stage III and IV tumors (53% and 80%, respectively). We found a s ignificant correlation between chromosome arm 14q LOH and nuclear grad e (P < 0.001) and stage (P < 0.001) of tumors. These observations indi cate the presence of a tumor-suppressor gene at chromosome segment 14q 24.2-qter and demonstrate the usefulness of microsatellite analysis fo r assessing the possible clinical outcome of nonpapillary renal cell c arcinomas. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.