Deletion analysis at the DEL-27, APC and MTS1 loci in bladder cancer: LOH at the DEL-27 locus on 5p13-12 is a prognostic marker of tumor progression.

Inactivation of relevant tumor-suppressor genes by allelic or homozygous deletion is a characteristic event in tumor cells. Here, the prognostic value of allelic deletions on 5p13-12 at the putative del-27 tumor-suppressor locus and in the APC tumor-suppressor gene on 5q21, as well as homozygous deletions of the MTS1 (p16INK4, CDKN 2) tumor-suppressor gene on 9p21 was assessed in 87 bladder cancers using microdissection and PCR-based assays. Tumor-specific LOH was detected in 10 of 38 (26%, del-27), and 15 of 30 (50%, APC) informative specimens. Homozygous deletion of the MTS1 gene was detected in 33% of 84 tumors investigated. These deletion frequencies implicate the 3 tumor-suppressor regions in the genesis of transitional-cell carcinoma. In contrast to deletions of the APC or MTS1 genes, LOH at the del-27 locus correlated with tumor progression. This suggests that loss of the putative tumor-suppressor gene DEL-27 is involved in an aggressive behavior of the tumor cells and appears to be a prognostic marker for the clinical outcome of patients with transitional-cell carcinoma.