High frequency loss of heterozygosity in the region of the DBH locus in bladder cancer

Objective To determine the location of a putative tumor suppressor gene (TS G), and evaluate the frequency loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the long arm of chromosome 9 (9q) in bladder cancer. Methods We analyzed 25 patients with bladder cancer for LOH of 9q using 25 high-density microsatellite markers. Results Twenty-three samples (92%) showed LOH at least at one locus on 9q. We identified that the commonly deleted region were at 9q12-q21, 9q22, and 9q34. The rate of LOH was 44.0%, 22.7%, 22.7%, 16.0%, 12.0% on DBH, D9S15, D9S1815, D9S1831, D9S176 locus, respectively, and was not significantly rel ated with grades and stages of tumor. Conclusion These data suggest that alteration of a TSG at DBH of 9q may pla y an important role in the development of bladder cancer.