Clinical value of loss of heterozygosity in serum microsatellite DNA of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Goals: To study the role of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in serum microsatellite DNA of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Background: In GIST, tumor markers from peripheral blood are missing.

Study: Seventy-eight patients (59 GIST, 13 leiomyomas, 2 leiomyosarcomas, and 4 schwannomas) underwent resection at our institute between 1985 and 2006.

Microsatellite analysis in serum DNA as a diagnostic tool for distinction of patients with unknown pancreatic masses.

The clinical distinction between cancer and chronic pancreatitis is difficult in patients with pancreatic masses. To test whether detection of aberrant serum DNA could assist in this important differential diagnosis, we tested a panel of 12 microsatellitemarkers from chromosomes 17p, 17q, 13q, 9p, 5q, and 2p in the blood of 35 pancreatic cancer patients, 22 patients with chronic pancreatitis, and 20 healthy individuals. An average of 2.

Short tandem repeat polymorphism in exon 4 of esophageal cancer-related gene 2 detected in genomic DNA is a prognostic marker for esophageal cancer.

Background: Short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphisms in exon 4 of the esophageal cancer-related gene 2 (ECRG2) are a risk marker for esophageal carcinoma. The aim of the present study was to correlate these STRs with clinical outcome.

Methods: Genomic DNA of 86 patients who underwent complete surgical resection was analyzed for STRs TCA3/TCA3, TCA3/TCA4, and TCA4/TCA4 in exon 4 of ECRG2 by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing.

Similar patterns of loss of heterozygosity in serum of adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus and the cardia in early diagnosis.

Background: Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) may be a valuable tool for detection of malignant proceedings. The aim of our study was to investigate LOH in the serum of patients with adenocarcinoma of the distal oesophagus and the cardia for diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Patients And Methods: Matched tumour and serum samples from 46 surgically treated patients with oesophageal adenocarcinoma and cardia carcinoma divided in two groups were analysed.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus can be detected by microsatellite analysis in tumor and serum.

Purpose: Esophageal squamous cell cancer can be treated effectively by potentially curative surgery if diagnosed at an early stage. Our aim was to develop a novel molecular approach as a noninvasive test for squamous cell cancer detection and as an indicator for the prognosis of the patients.

Experimental Design: Matched normal, tumor, and serum samples were obtained from 28 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the esophagus.