Analysis of genomic instability in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck using the random amplified polymorphic DNA method.

Using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method, we identified genomic instability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues. We extracted DNA from tumor and corresponding normal tissues of 30 HNSCC patients and amplified with ten random 10-mer arbitrary primers by the RAPD method. Genomic instabilities, which appeared as banding pattern changes between normal and tumor DNA, were detected by at least one primer in all tumor tissues. Moreover, there was significant correlation between the frequency of genomic instability and the degree of tumor differentiation. These results indicate a possible association of genomic instability with malignant potential of head and neck cancer.