AMPLIFICATION OF THE ANONYMOUS MARKER D17S67 IN MALIGNANT ASTROCYTOMAS

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for chromosome arms 9p, 10p, 10q, and 17p and amplification of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene have been identified as frequent genetic changes in malignant astrocy tomas. We have found amplification of the anonymous marker D17S67 on c hromosome arm 17p in 10% (3 of 30 cases) of astrocytomas of the highes t malignancy grade. The tumors with D17S67 amplification displayed oth er genetic changes on chromosome 17, including additional amplificatio ns and deletions. All three patients with D17S67 amplification develop ed severe brain edema and died within 1 month after operation. (C) 199 4 Wiley-Liss, Inc.