Evaluation of microsatellite amplifications at chromosomal locus 3q26 as surrogate marker for premalignant changes in mucosa surrounding head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

We analyzed tumor and surrounding mucosal samples of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by fragment analysis for gain of genomic material as a potential indicator for oncogenic transformation. Our aim was to evaluate the potential value of this fast and sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method for intra-operative detection of chromosomal aberrations as a surrogate marker for incomplete tumor resection. Biopsies of the primary tumors and adjacent macroscopically nonmalignant mucosa 1 and 2 cm away from the tumor margins were collected from 20 patients. DNA were isolated, and 11 microsatellite markers at loci 3q25.31 approximately 3q28 were amplified by PCR. Allelic losses or gains were analyzed by capillary electrophoresis. Imbalanced alleles were common in the samples evaluated. In the median gains of the informative loci were detected in 67% of the primary tumors, 22% of the samples taken at 1 cm and 15% of the samples taken at 2 cm distance. We observed gains of 3q at least in one microsatellite in all primary tumors, in 15 (1 cm) and 12 (2 cm) nonmalignant mucosa samples. Gain of genetic material is frequent in tumor-surrounding mucosa. Detection of small chromosomal aberrations is possible using the PCR-based, highly sensitive, and fast-to-perform fragment analysis technique. The value for the diagnosis and prognosis will have to be proven in follow-up studies.