OBJECTIVES: Chromosomal deletions are the most frequent genetic alterations observed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 4q has been observed in 40% of hepatocellular carcinomas suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene which has not yet been identified. METHODOLOGY: We developed a semi-automated quantitative genotyping method which allowed us to characterize 119 hepatocellular carcinomas with 22 fluorescent microsatellite markers distributed on chromosome 4q. RESULTS: 4q loss was observed in 40% of cases. Among these deletions, 19 cases of partial or interstitial loss made it possible to define two common minimal regions of deletion of 25.1 and 37.6 centimorgans localized between markers D4S414 and D4S430 and between markers D4S3033 and D4S408, respectively. CONCLUSION: This work represents the first step towards the identification and characterization of new genes involved in hepatic carcinogenesis.
OBJECTIVES: Chromosomal deletions are the most frequent genetic alterations observed in hepatocellular carcinoma. Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 4q has been observed in 40% of hepatocellular carcinomas suggesting the presence of a tumor suppressor gene which has not yet been identified. METHODOLOGY: We developed a semi-automated quantitative genotyping method which allowed us to characterize 119 hepatocellular carcinomas with 22 fluorescent microsatellite markers distributed on chromosome 4q. RESULTS: 4q loss was observed in 40% of cases. Among these deletions, 19 cases of partial or interstitial loss made it possible to define two common minimal regions of deletion of 25.1 and 37.6 centimorgans localized between markers D4S414 and D4S430 and between markers D4S3033 and D4S408, respectively. CONCLUSION: This work represents the first step towards the identification and characterization of new genes involved in hepatic carcinogenesis.
Authors: Sophie Gad; David Teboul; Astrid Lièvre; Nicolas Goasguen; Anne Berger; Philippe Beaune; Pierre Laurent-Puig Journal: BMC Cancer Date: 2004-07-09 Impact factor: 4.430