胶质母细胞瘤3号染色体杂合性丢失的研究

目的　寻找胶质母细胞瘤 (GBM) 3号染色体上可能存在肿瘤抑制基因的杂合性丢失 (LOH)区域 ,为发现和定位肿瘤抑制基因 (TSG)提供线索和依据。方法　采用荧光标记的引物和 377型DNA序列自动分析仪 ,分析了 2 0例GBM 3号染色体上 2 3个微卫星多态性标记的LOH。结果　在 50 % (1 0 / 2 0例 )GBM的 3号染色体上观察到LOH ,在 2 5 .6 % (88/ 344)可提供信息位点存在LOH。其中 3q的LOH率明显高于 3p ,3q和 3p的LOH率分别为 50 % (1 0 / 2 0 )、35 % (7/ 2 0 )。在 3q上的下列位点检测到较高的LOH率 :3q2 2 2 3上的微卫星位点D3s1 569(35 .3 % )、3q2 4 2 7上的D3s1 61 4 (42 .9% ) D3s1 565(35 .3 % ) ;在3p1 4 .1 1 4 .3上D3s1 2 89的LOH率也较高 (33 .3 % )。 结论　 3号染色体可能在GBM的分子发病机制中发挥着重要作用 ,3p1 4 .1 1 4 .3上的D3s1 2 89和 3q2 2 2 3上的D3s1 569位点、3q2 4 2 7上的D3s1 61 4 D3s1 565位点间区域可能存在与GBM相关的肿瘤抑制基因     

胶质母细胞瘤6号染色体杂合性丢失的初步研究

目的：寻找胶质母细胞瘤（GBM）6号染色体上可能存在肿瘤抑制基因的杂合性丢失（LOH）区域,为发现和定位肿瘤抑制基因（TSG）提供线索和依据。方法：应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）方法,采用荧光标记的引物及377型DNA序列自动分析仪,分析了21例GBM患者6号染色体上20个微卫星多态性标记的LOH。结果：6号染色体总的LOH检出率为47．6％（10／21）,在28．1％（81／288）能提价信息位上检测了LOH。其中,6p和6q的LOH检出率分别是28．6％（6／21）、38．1％（8／21）,在6q^tel上距短臂端粒201．1cM的微卫星位点D6S281检测到较高的LOH率（50％）,6q^16.3上D6S287的LOH率也高达50％,另外,6p^21.1-21.3上D6S276的LOH率也较高（35．3％）。结论：6号染色体分子遗传学异常改变可能在GBM的发生发展中起着重要作用,染色体6q^tel上的D6S281位点,6q^16.3上的D6S287和6p^21.1-21.3的D62S276位点所在的染色体区域可能存在与GBM相关的肿瘤抑制基因。     

10号染色体可能含有多个与胶质母细胞瘤相关的肿瘤抑制基因

目的 寻找胶质母细胞瘤（GBM）10号染色体上可能存在肿瘤抑制基因的杂合性丢失（LOH）区域,为发现和定位肿瘤抑制基因（TSG）提供线索和依据。方法 应用聚合酶链反应（PCR）方法,采用荧光标记的引物和先进的377型DNA序列自动分析仪,分析了21例GBM10号染色体上20个微卫星多态性标记的LOH。结果 在85．7％（18／21例）GBM的10号染色体上观察到LOH,在57．7％（162／281）可提供信息位点上存在LOH。10q的LOH率高于10p,分别是81．0％（17／21）、66．7％（14／21）。在下列位点或区域检测到较高的LOH率（＞60％）：10q22.3-23.3上的D10s185-D10s192间区域,10p14-15.1上的D10s591-D10s249间区域,10q24.2-26.3上的D10s1693-D10s212间区域,10p12.2-14上的D10s547位点,10q21.3上的D10537位点。结论 10号染色体可能在GBM的分子水平发病机制中发挥着重要作用,它上面的多个染色体区域可能存在与GBM相关的多个TSG。     

胶质母细胞瘤染色体10q可能存在多个肿瘤抑制基因

目的寻找胶质母细胞瘤10号染色体长臂(10q)上可能存在肿瘤抑制基因的杂合性缺失(LOH)区域,为发现和定位肿瘤抑制基因提供线索和依据。方法应用聚合酶链反应(PCR)方法分析10例胶质母细胞瘤(GBM)染色体10q上9个微卫星多态性标记的LOH。结果在90%(9/10)肿瘤组织染色体10q上检出LOH,在71%(35/49)可提供信息的位点上观察到LOH。以在10q     

CHROMOSOME 17P MAY HARBOR MULTIPLE TUMOR SUPPRESSOR GENES ASSOCIATED WITH PRIMARY GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant type of glioma, is the most common primary brain neoplasm. Although comprehensive therapeutic measures are applied, the prognosis of GBM remains dismal with a median post-treatment survival of less than one year. Modern molecular genetics has demonstrated that abnormal alterations of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) and oncogenes are the major mechanisms responsible for the initiation and progression of this malignant tumor. Identifying rela…     

Detailed deletion mapping on the short arm of chromosome-3 in nasopharyngeal carcinomas

Allelic loss on the short arm of chromosome 3 is one of the most consistent molecular genetic alterations observed in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Detailed mapping of the region of common deletion on chromosome 3p will help to locate the site of candidate tumor suppressor gene(s) involved in the pathogenesis of NPC. We have examined allelic deletion in 27 primary undifferentiated NPC at 11 chromosomal loci (spanning from 3p13-3p25) using microsatellite polymorphic markers. Allelic loss was observed in 18 of 27 primary tumors (67%) when comparing tumor DNA with normal constitutional DNA of the same patient. Among these 18 cases, 10 showed allelic loss in all informative loci of chromosome 3p and 8 showed partial or interstitial deletion, The highest frequency of allelic loss was found in three loci, D3S1038 (52%), D3S1228 (50%) and D3S659 (50%). In 5 of the 8 cases with partial deletion of chromosome 3p, a common deletion region within 3p13 to 3p14.3, flanked by two loci, D3S1079 (3p13) proximally and D3S1228 (3p14.1-14.3) distally, was identified. These results suggest strongly the presence of tumor suppressor gene(s) within the 3p13 to 3p14.3 region, the deletion of which represent a critical event in the development of NPC. In the remaining 3 cases with partial chromosomal deletion, the pattern of allelic loss suggests the presence of two other regions of deletion distal to the commonly deleted region (3p13-14.3) identified. The presence of multiple deleted regions on chromosome 3p in NPC suggests that more than one tumor suppressor gene on 3p may be involved in the development of NPC.     

Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome arms 3p and 6q in microdissected adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix and adenocarcinoma in situ

BACKGROUND: Despite the increasing frequency of adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix, little is known regarding inactivation of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) in this tumor type. The authors analyzed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 36 carcinomas of the cervix with glandular differentiation, and 5 adenocarcinoma in situ in 40 patients. METHODS: The authors analyzed samples using laser capture microdissection from archival material and DNA amplified with microsatellite markers on the following loci: 3p14.2 (D3S1234, D3S1300), 3p21.3 (D3S1029, D3S1447), 3p22-24 (D3S1537, D3S1351), 6q21-23.3 (D6S250), 6q25.1 (ESR), 6q25.2 (D6S255), 8p21 (D8S136, D8S1820), 13q12.3 (D13S220, D13S267), 17q21 (D17S579, D17S855). Eight additional markers spanning the short arm of chromosome 3 (3p12-p25) and six spanning the long arm of chromosome 6 (6q11-q27) were studied in the cases showing LOH to further define the deletion intervals. RESULTS: The frequency of allelic loss in cancers was chromosome 3p: 49% (p14.2: 35%, p21.3: 23%, p22-24: 41%), 6q: 48% (q21-23.1: 39%, q25.1: 45%, q25.2: 7%), 13q: 22%, 17q: 6%, and 8p: 18%. On chromosome arm 3p, the authors' data suggest at least two discrete areas of deletion: a proximal area between markers D3S1234 (p12) and D3S1766 (p14.2-14.3), and a second distal interval, telomeric from marker D3S4623 (p21.3). On chromosome 6q, the deletion area is between marker D6S300 (q22) and D6S255 (q25.2). Two of five preneoplastic lesions showed LOH on chromosome arm 3p, and two five showed allelic loss on chromosome arm on 6q, suggesting the genes might be inactivated early in cervical tumorigenesis. CONCLUSIONS: The authors have identified three chromosomal regions that may harbor TSGs involved in the development/progression of adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix, 3p12-14.2, 3p21.3-pter, and 6q22-25.2. Deletions also were detected in adenocarcinoma in situ, suggesting the genes may be inactivated early in cervical tumorigenesis.     

Frequent loss of heterozygosity on chromosomes Xp and 13q in human ovarian cancer.

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was examined at 27 loci on chromosomes 3p, 6q, 11p, 13q, 17 and X in 42 human ovarian tumors. LOH was detected in 12 of 26 (46%) and 5 of 12 (42%) informative cases at 2 chromosome 13q loci, D13S32 and D13S34 respectively. On chromosome Xp, tumor-specific allele loss was observed in 9 out of 15 informative cases (60%) at the ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) gene locus. Examination of 12 additional Xp and 13q loci has mapped the common deletion regions to Xp21.1-->p11.4 and 13q33-->q34. The observation of significant LOH on Xp represents a strong indication of genetic changes in the X chromosome in a human malignancy. The allele losses on 13q which have been reported for other cancers suggest that chromosome 13, in addition to the retinoblastoma gene, may contain other growth-regulating gene(s) important in the development of several tumor types, including ovarian malignancies.     

Identification of distinct regions of allelic loss on chromosome 13q in nasopharyngeal cancer from paraffin embedded tissues.

Our main purpose was to identify tumor suppressor gene loci on chromosome 13 responsible for nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) development by analyzing loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and RB protein expression in paraffin embedded tissues. Normal and tumor DNA were extracted from microdissected samples, and their whole genomes were amplified using degenerate oligonucleotide primers. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were analyzed by repeated amplification using primers derived from 16 microsatellite regions spanning the long arm of this chromosome. Among 50 informative cases, LOH was observed in 44 tumors. Thirty-one tumors displayed partial loss and provided an informative basis for detailed deletion mapping. Three minimal regions of loss were delineated; the first flanked by D13S120 and D13S219, the second by D13S126 and D13S119, and the third by D13S137 and 13qter. These 3 regions were linked to BRCA2 on 13q12, RB1 on 13q14, and 13q14.3-ter, respectively. Seven and 4 cases showed LOH either on 13q12 or 13q14, respectively. Nineteen cases showed LOH of both loci separately. One NPC displayed 13q12 and 13q14.3-ter LOH. RB protein expression was detectable in 76% of the cases. Ten out of 15 cases with the allelic losses limited to 13q14 showed RB protein expression. Contrasting that, 6 out of 7 cases devoid of RB protein expressions showed 13q14LOH. In conclusion, 13qLOH, involving 3 tumor suppressor gene loci, appears to be a frequent genetic event occurring during NPC development. However, other tumor suppressor genes besides RB1, may be responsible for the majority of 13q14LOH.     

High resolution mapping of chromosome 6 deletions in cervical cancer.

Chromosome 6 is frequently affected in different tumors. However, little information exists on chromosome 6 deletions in cervical cancer. We have studied loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MIN) in 62 invasive squamous cell carcinomas of the cervix (CC) using 19 polymorphic microsatellite markers spanning both arms of chromosome 6 and one marker located at 5p15. We found that LOH at chromosome 6 is a common feature of cervical carcinomas: 90% (56/62) of CC had LOH at least at one locus and about 58% (36/62) had LOH on both arms of chromosome 6. The highest LOH incidence was shown in HLA region (6p21.3-6p21.1) with markers D6S273 and D6S276 in 52.7% and 45.2% of informative cases respectively. Frequent LOH on 6q was found at loci D6S311 (6q24-25. 1), D6S305 (6q26) and D6S281 (6q27-6qter) in 37.8%, 33.3% and 39.0% of informative cases respectively. There was no significant correlation observed between clinical parameters of cervical cancer (age, histologic grade, clinical stages and progression) and LOH frequency. Microsatellite instability was found in 3 out of 62 cases (4.8%) at three and more loci out of 20 tested. The study shows that several regions on 6p and 6q may harbour potential tumor-suppressor genes important for cervical cancer progression.     

Loss of two new loci on chromosome 8 (8p23 and 8q12-13) in human prostate cancer

Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes due to allelic loss is thought to be an important mechanism of gene alterations in prostatic carcinogenesis. Loss of sequences on the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p) has been reported in human cancers, especially of 8p22 and 8p12-21 in prostate cancer. By using PCR analysis of polymorphic microsatellite repeat markers at four 8p loci and three 8q loci in 60 tumors, we observed deletion of sequences at two other deletion domains (8p23, and 8q12-13). There was loss in 51 of 60 cases (85%) with at least one marker. Four distinct regions of loss detected were: i) at 8p23, at locus D8S262; ii) at 8p22, on locus D8S259; iii) at 8p12, on loci D8S255 and D8S285; iv) at 8q12-13, on loci between D8S260 and D8S528. We found that 29% of the tumors showed LOH at 8p23; 19% LOH on 8p22; 54% had LOH at 8p12; and 48% had LOH at 8q12-13. There was higher frequency of LOH at 3 or more loci in samples of T3 stage (62%) as compared to T2 stage (13.3%) which suggests higher incidence of LOH in advanced stage of prostate cancer. We report deletion of two novel loci at 8p23 and 8q12-13, these regions may contain putative tumor suppressor genes in prostate cancer.     

Allelic loss on chromosome 17 in human ovarian cancer

In order to identify a common region of deletion on chromosome 17 potentially containing a tumor-suppressor gene, 27 ovarian carcinomas and 3 ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP) were examined for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 6 p arm and 10 q arm loci. Ninety percent of all tumors had deletions at one or more loci. On the p arm, there was a single near-common region of deletion on 17p 13.3 (D/7S30/ pYNZ22.1; 86% LOH), an intervening locus with a low LOH rate, and a more proximal locus on 17p11.2 (D/7S58/pEW301; 82% LOH) with a high LOH rate. In less aggressive tumors, LOH at Df 7S30 was not accompanied by LOH at p53. The q arm had a common region of deletion for high-stage carcinoma at D/7S579 (Mfd 188; 74% LOH) on q21, a locus tightly linked to the familial breast-ovarian-cancer syndrome (BRCAI) locus. D/7S579 was lost in all informative high-stage carcinomas and retained in all low-stage carcinomas and tumors of LMP. There may be at least 2 tumor-suppressor genes, an early-acting gene on the p arm and a gene on the q arm involved in tumor progression and metastasis.     

Two distinct regions of deletion on chromosome 13q in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is rare in most parts of the world, but prevalent in Southern China. Although this disease poses a serious health problem in our population, the genetic alterations that lead to the development of NPC have yet to be defined. In a comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) study on NPC by our group, loss of the long arm of chromosome 13 has been identified as a frequent event. To investigate further the involvement of this genetic alteration in NPC tumorigenesis, we examined 31 primary NPC tumours by LOH analysis with a panel of 13 microsatellite polymorphic markers distributed along the long arm of chromosome 13. It was found that 19/31 tumours (60%) showed LOH for markers on chromosome 13q. The highest frequency of LOH was found at loci D13S133 (53.6%) on 13q14.3 and D13S796 (38.5%) on 13q32-34. Two distinct smallest deletion regions were delineated: the first region between D13S133 and D13S119 at 13q14.3-22, and the second region between D13S317 and D13S285 at 13q31-34. Our findings show that LOH of 13q is a common event in NPC and that at least 2 putative tumour-suppressor loci may be present on 13q. Mapping of the critical regions of these loci suggests that some candidate tumour-suppressor genes on 13q, other than Rb and BRCA2, may be involved in the development of NPC.     

Allelic loss in ovarian cancer

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was examined at 86 loci distributed on every chromosomal arm in 50 human ovarian tumors. Frequent allele losses were observed on chromosomes 13q (42%), 17p (42%), 17q (45%), and Xp (41%). Deletion mapping on chromosome 17 revealed a candidate gene on the long arm distal to D17S41/S74 for ovarian cancer which is distant from the locus for early onset breast cancer. LOH on chromosome 17q was found to be concordant with LOH on chromosomes 3p, 13q, 17p and Xp suggesting that it may be an early event in neoplastic development. These findings indicate that multiple tumor-suppressor genes for ovarian cancer possibly exist on chromosomes 13q, 17, and/or Xp and provide the basis for the identification of candidate gene(s) associated with ovarian cancer. The chromosomal mechanisms resulting in allele losses in ovarian cancer include deletion, deletion/duplication, mitotic recombination and monosomy, in concordance with the developed genetic model.     

喉癌中13号染色体杂合性丢失研究

目的　为初步限定喉癌中 13号染色体抑癌基因的缺失区域和为发现及定位抑癌基因提供线索和依据。方法　应用聚合酶链反应 ( PCR) ,筛查了 58例喉癌 (包括 3例原位癌 )组织中染色体13q上 D13S765( 13q13) ,RB1.2 0 ( 13q14.2 ) ,D13S133( 13q14.3) ,D13S318( 13q2 1) 4个座位微卫星多态标记的杂合性丢失。结果　 3例原位癌中无一例发生 13q的杂合性丢失 ,55例浸润癌中在 13q一个以上座位出现杂合性丢失的频率为 4 5% ( 2 4 / 53) ,D13S765座位的杂合性丢失的频率最高 ,为 52 %( 2 2 / 4 2 )。结论　喉癌组织中染色体 13q缺失区域在 D13S765( 13q13)座位附近 ,RB1的近端 ,即在D13S765座位附近存在着与喉癌发生发展密切相关的抑癌基因 ,可能包括 RB1基因 ,它的失活与浸润期喉癌发生发展密切相关。     

LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY ON CHROMOSOME 13 IN SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS OF THE LARYNX

ＬＯＳＳＯＦＨＥＴＥＲＯＺＹＧＯＳＩＴＹＯＮＣＨＲＯＭＯＳＯＭＥ１３ＩＮＳＱＵＡＭＯＵＳＣＥＬＬＣＡＲＣＩＮＯＭＡＳＯＦＴＨＥＬＡＲＹＮＸＢａｉＳｕｊｕａｎ白素娟ＺｈａｎｇＸｕｅ张学ＷａｎｇＪｕｎ王筠ＳｕｎＫａｉｌａｉ孙开来ＦｅｉＳｈｅｎｇｚｈｏｎ...     

Heterogeneity of allelic deletions within melanoma metastases

During the initiation and progression of malignant melanoma, a series of different genetic events accumulate on several different chromosomes. The biological heterogeneity of tumour cells presents a major problem, preventing effective treatment of melanoma. To examine the degree of genetic heterogeneity, we searched for allelic losses (loss of heterozygosity; LOH) on chromosomes 9p, 9q, 1p and 17p, examining different areas within human melanoma metastases. All of the examined metastases were informative within at least one dissected area for at least one marker. Out of 29 areas in 11 melanoma metastases, 58% showed LOH with at least one marker. On chromosome 9p21-22, eight out of 26 informative loci (31%) showed LOH at D9S171 (three not informative), two out of 18 (11%) at IFNA (11 not informative) and seven out of 24 (29%) at D9S169 (five not informative). LOH on chromosome 9q22.3 was examined by the microsatellite marker D9S12; three out of 24 areas (12.5%) showed LOH, and five were not informative. Deletions on chromosome 1p were assessed using D1S450. Four out of 25 (16%) showed LOH; four were not informative. Deletions on chromosome 17p13 were examined with TP53; two out of 21 cases (9%) showed LOH, and eight were not informative. Our data demonstrate an impressive heterogeneity of allelic losses in the investigated chromosomal areas within the same metastatic lesion. This suggests that there is not one specific genetic alteration that accounts for melanoma progression to metastases. Rather there seem to be multiple genetic alterations accumulating even on the same chromosome, and progression from melanoma to metastases is paralleled by the accumulation of clones harbouring multiple genetic abnormalities.     

Deletion of chromosome 11p15, p12, q22, q23-24 loci in human prostate cancer

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 11 is frequently altered in various epithelial cancers. The present study was designed to investigate LOH on chromosome 11 in microdissected samples of normal prostatic epithelium and invasive carcinoma from the same patients. For this purpose, DNA was extracted from the microdissected normal and tumor cells of 38 prostate cancers, amplified by polymerase chain reaction PCR and analyzed for LOH on chromosome 11 using 9 different polymorphic DNA markers (D11S1307, D11S989, D11S1313, D11S898, D11S940, D11S1818, D11S924, D11S1336 and D11S912). LOH on chromosome 11 was identified in 30 of 38 cases (78%) with at least one marker. Four distinct regions of loss detected were: 1) at 11p15, at loci between D11S1307 and D11S989; 2) at 11p12, on locus D11S131 (11p12); 3) at 11q22, on loci D11S898, D11S940 and D11S1818; and 4) at 11q23-24, on loci between D11S1336 and D11S912. We found 25% of the tumors with LOH at 11p15; 39% had LOH at 11p12; 66% had LOH at 11q22; and 47% had LOH at 11q23-24. These deletions at 11p15, 11p12, 11q22 and 11q23-24 loci were not related to the stage or grade of the tumor. Int. J. Cancer 72:283–288, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Allelic loss on chromosome 1 is associated with tumor progression of cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Alterations in chromosome 1 are common in human malignancies. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 1 in cervical carcinoma and its clinical significance are not clearly understood. METHODS: LOH on chromosome 1 was studied in 100 cervical carcinomas by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 29 highly polymorphic microsatellite markers spaced approximately 10 centimorgans apart. Loci with high frequencies of LOH were identified and the findings were correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics. RESULTS: LOH on chromosome 1 at 1 or more loci was detected in 93% of tumors. The frequencies of LOH at locus D1S2829 (1p31), D1S2663 (1p36.3), and D1S2725 (1q25) exceeded 30%, and 12 other loci exhibited frequencies of LOH of 20-30%. Advanced stage tumors had a significantly higher percentage of informative microsatellite markers with LOH than early stage tumors. Of the 29 microsatellite markers studied, 4 loci had a significantly higher frequency of LOH in Stage III and IV tumors than in earlier stage tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Frequent aberrations on chromosome 1 in cervical carcinoma suggest that inactivation of tumor suppressor genes is important in cervical tumorigenesis. Higher frequencies of LOH in Stage III and IV tumors suggest that chromosome 1 changes are late events in cervical carcinoma. The findings of this study are consistent with earlier reports that suggest that tumor suppressor genes are present at 1p36.3 and 1p31. To the authors' knowledge, the high frequency of LOH mapped to 1q25 has not been reported previously. Its significance awaits further clarification.     

Association of the shrinkage of uterine leiomyoma treated with GnRH agonist and deletion of long arm of chromosome 7

Specific chromosomal abnormalities, such as del(7q), t(12;14), 12 trisomy, or the rearrangement of 6p, are seen in approximately 30% of uterine leiomyomas despite their benign status. We investigated the association between the shrinkage of uterine leiomyomas treated with a GnRH agonist and the interstitial deletion of chromosome 7q, which is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities in uterine leiomyomas. This study covered 29 women with uterine leiomyomas who were treated with a GnRH agonist before surgery. The volume of the largest myoma nodule was measured by means of MRI before and at 12 weeks after the beginning of GnRH agonist treatment, and the percentage of the reduction in volume was calculated. Genomic DNA was extracted from leiomyoma tissue and peripheral blood, and amplified by PCR using fluorescently-tagged oligonucleotide primers of twelve microsatellite loci on chromosome 7. The PCR products were analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) using an automated fluorescent DNA sequencer. Of the 29 informative tumors, five (17%) showed LOH with deletion of the common region, D7S491. The mean percentages of the reduction in volume of the largest myomas with LOH or without LOH were 32+/-13 and 18+/-58%, respectively (not significant). One tumor showing interstitial deletion of both alleles (homo-deletion) reduced in volume by 19%. Another tumor showing an extraband increased in volume by 13%. Although tumor specific chromosomal deletion suggested the existence of tumor suppressor genes in this region, there was no significant association between the shrinkage of uterine leiomyomas treated with a GnRH agonist and the interstitial deletion of chromosome 7q.