Identification of novel bladder tumour suppressor genes

Many genetic alterations have recently been identified in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. These include alterations to known proto-oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes and the identification of multiple sites of nonrandom chromosomal deletion which are predicted to define the location of as yet unidentified tumour suppressor genes. This review summarises recent efforts to define the location of novel bladder tumour suppressor genes using loss of heterozygositiy (LOH) and homozygous deletion analyses and to isolate the genes targeted by these deletions. For three of the four regions of deletion on chromosome 9, the most frequently deleted chromosome in TCC, candidate genes have been identified. It is anticipated that the identification of the genes and/or genetic regions which are frequently altered in TCC will provide useful tools for diagnosis, prediction of prognosis, patient monitoring and novel therapies.