Brief Article
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World J Clin Oncol. Feb 10, 2012; 3(2): 24-28
Published online Feb 10, 2012. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v3.i2.24
LOH-profiling by SNP-mapping in a case of multifocal head and neck cancer
Jens Pfeiffer, Wolfgang Maier, Gerd J Ridder, Karim Zaoui, Ralf Birkenhäger
Jens Pfeiffer, Wolfgang Maier, Gerd J Ridder, Karim Zaoui, Ralf Birkenhäger, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
Author contributions: Pfeiffer J and Birkenhäger R designed the research and analyzed the data; Pfeiffer J wrote the paper; Maier W, Ridder GJ and Zaoui K contributed substantially to conception and design of the research and to the acquisition of data.
Correspondence to: Jens Pfeiffer, MD, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Freiburg, Killianstrasse 5, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. jens.pfeiffer@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Telephone: +49-761-27041330 Fax: +49-761-27041110
Received: September 25, 2011
Revised: December 22, 2011
Accepted: February 6, 2012
Published online: February 10, 2012
Abstract

AIM: To introduce an approach for the detection of putative genetic host factors that predispose patients to develop head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

METHODS: HNSCC most often result from the accumulation of somatic gene alterations found in tumor cells. A cancer-predisposing genetic background must be expected in individuals who develop multiple cancers, starting at an unexpectedly young age or with little carcinogen exposure. Genome-wide loss of heterozygosity (LOH) profiling by single nucleotide polymorphism microarray mapping was performed in a patient with a remarkable history of multifocal HNSCC.

RESULTS: Regions of genomic deletions in germline DNA were identified on several chromosomes with a remarkable size between 1.6 Mb and 8.1 Mb (mega base-pair). No LOH was detected at the genomic location of the tumor suppressor gene P53.

CONCLUSION: Specific patterns of germline DNA deletions may be responsible for susceptibility to HNSCC and should be further analyzed.

Keywords: Genome-wide analysis; Head and neck cancer; Loss of heterozygosity; Multifocal cancer; Single nucleotide polymorphism microarray; Squamous cell carcinoma