Allelic Loss In Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinomas From Northern China

Esophageal cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The incidence and mortality of esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) ranks high in China. Discovery of esophageal cancer-related oncogenc and tumor suppressor genes might provide valuable biomarkers for diagnosis, treatment and prognostic evaluation of ESCC.To find tumor suppressor gene(s) underlying the initiation and/or progression of ESCC, we conducted LOH study in ESCC from China. For the possible target genes, further investigation was performed at both the genomic DNA and transcriptional levels. The results are as following:1. Two minimal deletion regions of overlap were found on 13q: one was located on band 13q12.3 from markers D13S171 to D13S267, and the other on band 13ql4 from markers D13S263 to D13S168. 13 of 60 (22%) cases presented allelic loss in three or more consecutive adjacent chosen markers. More frequent LOH .was observed in higher pathological grade of esophageai cancer at D13S171, D13S263 and in later stage of esophageal cancer at D13S263.2. LOH rates of the intragenic polymorphic markers tested were 68%, 63%, 54%, 50% and 67% for DICE1, KIAA1016, RB1, LOC112865, and MICA, respectively.3. CAGR1 and its adjacent markers D13S220, D13S267, D13S219 and D13S1493 showed LOH frequencies of 47%, 56%, 67%, 64% and 66%, respectively. Fifteen...