Chromosome 14q may harbor multiple tumor suppressor genes in primary glioblastoma multiforme.

Objective: To evaluate whether deletion of chromosome 14q is involved in the carcinogenesis of primary glioblastoma multiforme and to identify possibly common deletion regions. METHJODS: Fourteen fluorescent dye-labeled polymorphic markers were used and polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis was employed to investigate loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 14q in 20 primary glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Results: Ten of twenty (50%) GBM displayed LOH at one or more of the markers on chromosome 14q. Five tumors showed either LOH or non-informative on all markers tested. The most frequent LOH was observed at locus D14S65 (57.1%) on 14q32.1, and in the chromosomal region spanning from D14S63 (47.1%) to D14S74 (46.7%) on 14q23-31. None of the informative loci exhibited microsatellite instability.

Conclusions: Allelic deletion on chromosome 14q plays an important role in the pathogenesis of GBM. Chromosomal regions at locus D14S65 on 14q32.1 and spanning from D14S63 to D14S74 on 14q23-31 may harbor multiple tumor suppressor genes associated with GBM.