Frequent deletion of chromosome 3p in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Evidence suggests that the accumulation of genetic lesions in dominant oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes is involved in the development of human cancers. We have used restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to identify chromosomal deletions which may indicate the location of potential tumour suppressor genes. Deletion of chromosome 3p was found in 17/21 (81%) of informative primary oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) using a polymorphic probe recognising the D3F15S2 locus (3p21). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was not confined to patients exposed to recognised risk factors such as heavy smoking or alcohol consumption and was present at an early stage in the disease suggesting that this genetic alteration may be a fundamental event for oral cancer.