LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY AT LOCI FROM CHROMOSOME ARM 22Q IN HUMAN SPORADIC BREAST CARCINOMAS

Forty four breast carcinomas were studied for loss of heterozygosity ( LOH) at 25 microsatellite markers distributed almost evenly along chro mosome arm 22q. LOH at at least one marker were observed in 66% tumors , while 6 regions of consistent LOH were identified. The size of each region ranged between 3 and 6 cM, and the distance between each region was estimated to be 8 to 12 cM. Even if not all these regions contain a bone tide tumor-suppressor gene, it is possible that several loci f rom chromosome arm 22q may be involved in breast carcinogenesis. (C) 1 998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.