Comprehensive loss of heterozygosity analysis and identification of a novel hotspot at 3p21 in salivary gland neoplasms

Objectives: We sought to assess loss of heterozygosity (LOH) profiles of 3p, 6q, 8q, 10q, 12q, 13q, and 17p and to identify the tumor suppressor genes involved in salivary gland neoplasms. Study Design: LOH analysis was performed using 26 microsatellite markers by polymerase chain reaction-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method in 20 benign and 6 malignant salivary gland tumors. Results: Overall, LOH was detected in at least one informative locus in 18 of 20 (90%) of benign tumors and in all of 6 cases of malignant tumors. High LOH frequencies were revealed at the loci D3S1307 (22%, 3p26), D3S966 (41%, 3p21), D6S255 (27%, 6q25), D8S166 (25%, 8q12), D8S199 (21%, 8q24), and D10S1765 (28%, 10q23) in benign tumors, defining the hotspot regions for putative tumor suppressor genes. Conclusions and Significance: The hotspot regions defined by the present study suggest that new tumor suppressor genes related to the development of salivary gland tumors may reside at several chromosomal loci, including loci at 3p, 6q, 8q and 10q.