Allelic loss or "loss of heterozygosity" (LOH), a type of genetic abnormality in tumor cells, is a marker of tumor suppressor mutation and I or genomic instability in the genesis or progression of human cancers. Allelic losses of certain genetic regions, and an index of whole genome allelic loss, have been shown to be zood predictors of distant metastasis and survival in colorectal cancer, but clinical application is hindered by severab technical drawbacks of traditional LOH methods. The overall objective of this study is to improve methods for measuring allelic loss and to demonstrate practical uses for such measurement. With the use of PcR based microsatellite repeat polymorphism and quantitative phosphor imaging analysis, we will investigate the feasibility of detecting allelic imbalances in archival (formalin fixed, paraffin embedded) clinical prostate cancer specimens, and of automation and scale up of such procedures to allow rapid measurement of genome wide allelic loss. These studies could lead to new applications in cancer research and clinical medicine.Commercial ApplicationsThis project will promote development of an important tool for cancer gene mappinz and discovery, which is underway at this and other biotechnology companies. It may also lead to a clinically useful prognostic test for prostate and other human cancers.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
