The gene for multiple familial trichoepithelioma maps to chromosome 9p21

Multiple familial trichoepithelioma (MFT) is an autosomal dominant skin disease characterized by the presence of many small tumors predominantly on the face. To map the causative gene, we performed linkage analysis with microsatellite markers in three American families. We found a significant linkage of a gene for MFT to chromosome 9p2l. The maximum combined lod score was 3.31 at D9S171 at theta = 0. The disease locus was defined to a 4-cM region between IFNA and D9S126. Because several tumor suppressor genes including p16 and p15 have been mapped to this region, the gene for MFT may also be a tumor suppressor.