Mapping of genetic deletions on the long arm of chromosome 22 in human pancreatic adenocarcinomas

The molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis in pancreatic cancer are still p oorly understood although the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes at mul tiple loci is suspected We investigated the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 22 in pancreatic cancer by means of a PCR-based microsatellite analysis of archival paraffin-embedded histological sections in order to be tter define deleted region(s) and to test whether the NF-2 gene is involved . Using a panel of thirteen markers that spanned the long arm of chromosome 22, loss of heterozygosity was identified for at least one locus in 37% of investigated pancreatic adenocarcinomas. These deletions are clustered int o two separate areas of the chromosome 22 - one proximal to the NF-2 gene a nd one distal. The NF-2 gene itself is not involved. These regions are like ly locations of tumor suppressor genes that may contribute to the developme nt of pancreatic cancer.