[Detailed deletion map of chromosomal arm 9q in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma]

We examined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 37 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas using microsatellite markers mapped to 9q31-34.1. Partial or interstitial deletions were detected in 13 of them and the detailed deletion map defined a commonly deleted region between the D9S262 and D9S154 loci at 9q31-q32. The genetic distance was estimated to be approximately 4 cM. To narrowly define the commonly deleted region, we isolated six microsatellite markers from YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) clones covering the deleted region. As the distal 9q region also has been implicated as the site of a tumor suppressor gene(s) related to squamous cell carcinomas of other tissues, our map provides useful information for attempts to identify a common gene for carcinomas of this cell type.