Allelic loss on chromosome bands 13q1 1-q13 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Allelic loss on chromosome 13 occurs frequently in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. However, studies of the two known tumor suppressor genes locate d on 13q, RBI and BRCA2, have shown few mutations, suggesting that other ge nes are likely to be involved in the development of this tumor type. To ide ntify a minimal deletion interval, we first analyzed 42 microsatellite mark ers spanning chromosome bands 13q11-q13 in 56 esophageal squamous cell carc inoma patients, including 34 with a family history of upper gastrointestina l cancer and 22 without a family history of cancer. Lifestyle risk factors and clinical/pathologic characteristics were also collected. Two commonly d eleted regions were identified: one was located on band 13q12.11, between m arkers D13S787 and D13S221; the other was located on bands 13q12.3-q13.1 fr om markers D13S267 to D13S219. We observed higher allelic loss frequencies for eight of the microsatellite markers in those patients with a family his tory of upper gastrointestinal cancer compared to patients without such a h istory. This study suggests that one or more unidentified tumor suppressor genes are located on chromosome arm 13q that play a role in the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.