Loss of constitutional heterozygosity in chromosome 10 in human glioblastoma.

Gene deletion of chromosome 10 in 11 tumor tissues removed from nine patients with malignant glioma (seven glioblastomas and two malignant astrocytomas) was investigated. Loss of heterozygosity was found in four of the seven (57%) cases with glioblastoma, whereas heterozygosity was preserved in two malignant astrocytome cases. One glioblastoma case showed loss of heterozygosity only in the recurring tumor tissue, although heterozygosity was maintained in the initial tumor tissue. The significance of loss of heterozygosity in the growth and recurrence of glioblastoma is discussed.