LOSS OF HETEROZYGOSITY OF CHROMOSOME 9p21 IN HEAD AND NECK SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of chromosome 9p21 was studied using two polymorphic markers in 79 head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. 15 out of 67 (22%) DNA samples obtained from cancer specimens were revealed to have LOH when at least one marker was used. Frequency of LOH was not correlated with localization of the tumor, clinical stage of the patient, tumor size and lymph node involvement. However, frequency of LOH was significantly higher in the recurrent tumors than the no-recurrent tumors. Replication error (RER) was observed in 4 cancers. These results indicate that LOH of 9p21 is a considerable prognostic factor independent of other existing facors concerning head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.