A region of common deletion in 22q13.3 in human glioma associated with astrocytoma progression

Loss of heterozygosity for chromosome 22 (LOH 22) occurs in gliomas of all malignancy grades. Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients are at increased risk of developing a glioma. However, the NF2 gene in 22q12.2 is not invol ved in glioma tumorigenesis. To detect additional regions on chromosome 22 that may harbor tumor suppressor genes important in glioma tumorigenesis, w e determined LOH 22 profiles for 159 gliomas using 32 markers. LOH 22 was f ound in 46 tumors (29%). Thirteen tumors displayed partial LOH 22, from whi ch we deduced a region of common deletion between markers D22S928 and D22S1 169 in 22q13.3. LOH of at least this region was detected in 13% of the astr ocytomas (As), in 20% of the anaplastic astrocytomas (AAs) and in 35% of th e glioblastomas multiforme (GBMs). The significant increased frequency of L OH 22q13.3 in the highest malignancy grade (GBM vs. A and AA, p = 0.02) ind icates that loss of this region is associated with astrocytoma progression. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss. Inc.