Study of loss of heterozygosity in oligodendroglial tumors by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis

Objective To study the loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at chromosomes 1p or 19q in oligodendroglial tumors. Methods Twenty-eight cases of oligodendroglial tumors were enrolled into the study. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis was performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissues in order to study the status of chromosomes 1p and 19q. Results Among the 28 cases of oligodendroglial tumors, 24 cases (85.7%) showed 1p LOH, while 18 cases (64.3%) showed 19q LOH and 17 cases (60.7%) showed LOH of both 1p and 19q. LOH at 1p or 19q was present in 25 (89.3%) of the 28 cases. Conclusions Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based microsatellite analysis is a rapid and specific way in detecting LOH in paraffin-embedded tumor tissues. LOH at 1p or 19q is present in majority of the oligodendroglial tumors studied.