LOH-profiling by SNP-mapping in a case of multifocal head and neck cancer

To introduce an approach for the detection of putative genetic host factors that predispose patients to develop head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC).

HNSCC most often result from the accumulation of somatic gene alterations found in tumor cells. A cancer-predisposing genetic background must be expected in individuals who develop multiple cancers, starting at an unexpectedly young age or with little carcinogen exposure. Genome-wide loss of heterozygosity (LOH) profiling by single nucleotide polymorphism microarray mapping was performed in a patient with a remarkable history of multifocal HNSCC.

Regions of genomic deletions in germline DNA were identified on several chromosomes with a remarkable size between 1.6 Mb and 8.1 Mb (mega base-pair). No LOH was detected at the genomic location of the tumor suppressor gene P53.

Specific patterns of germline DNA deletions may be responsible for susceptibility to HNSCC and should be further analyzed.