FREQUENT ALLELIC LOSS AND HOMOZYGOUS DELETION IN CHROMOSOME BAND 8P23IN ORAL-CANCER

Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 8p in a variety of human malignancies, including head and neck cancers, has suggested the pres ence of a tumor suppressor gene (or genes) associated with the pathoge nesis of these cancers. To test the role of genetic alterations at 8p2 3 in oral carcinogenesis, we studied 51 squamous cell carcinomas of th e head and neck and 29 oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines for all elic loss using 7 microsatellite markers spanning approximately 5 cM o f chromosome band 8p23, Twenty-three of 51 tumors (45%) and 23 of 29 c ell lines (79%) showed allelic Toss at I or more loci. Three cell line s showed homozygous deletion of loci within a 3 chi region defined by the markers D8S1781 and D8S262, Our results suggest that a tumor suppr essor gene (or genes) is located in 8p23 and is associated with the de velopment and/or progression of oral carcinomas. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.