Allelic losses at chromosomes 1p, 2p, 6p, 10p, 13q, 17p, and 21q significantly correlate with the chromophobe subtype of renal cell carcinoma.

We analyzed 50 sporadic renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at the chromosomal regions 1p, 2p, 6p, 7q, 10p, 11p, 13q, 14q, 17p, 21q, and 22q. Histologically, the tumors were distinguished into clear cell, chromophilic, and chromophobe carcinomas. Whereas LOH at 14q was identified in 42-64% of all three tumor types, only the chromophobe tumors showed high frequencies of LOH (73-91%) at 1p, 2p, 6p, 10p, 13q, 17p, and 21q. These findings provide substantial evidence that the chromophobe subtype of RCC represents a distinct genetic entity. Thus, specific LOH patterns may define the histogenesis and oncogenesis of chromophobe RCC and may be useful in tumor diagnosis and clinical prognosis.