DNA typing of a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTRs) and of short
tandem repeats (STRs) is a modern forensic method for the identificat
ion of biological material. In many cases, amplification by the polyme
rase chain reaction (PCR), especially of STRs, allows DNA typing of mi
nute amounts of or degraded DNA. Here we describe the successful use o
f forensic DNA typing to clarify the origin of a malignant tumor. We r
eport two cases of metastatic malignant melanoma of unknown origin tha
t developed a few months after transplantation in two recipients of ki
dneys from the same donor. Fresh metastatic tissue and blood from the
first recipient, reference DNA of the donor, and only paraffin-embedde
d tissue from the second recipient were available for analysis. To inv
estigate whether the melanoma originated in the donor, DNA analysis of
nine polymorphic loci was performed. The results of the analysis show
ed that, in both cases, the tumors were genetically different from the
recipient DNA but matched the donor DNA. One incident of allele loss
was attributed to a mutation event. We conclude that the metastatic me
lanoma in both recipients originated in the donor and was transmitted
by renal transplantation.