Significance of loss of heterozygosity with microsatellite in the esophageal cancer

Objedtve To investigate whether the lose of heterozygosity of microsatellite present in tumor tissues of patiente with esophageal cancer could be detected in the serum sample,and its clinical significance.Methods 68 tumor specimens and their matched serum DNAs were analyzed for LOH at 13microsatellites by using PCR and fluorescence-based DNA sequencing technology. Serum samples form 100 healthy persons served as nonmal controls.The association of LOH with the clinicopathological phenotype was compared. 64(94.1I%)patients(94.1%) were detected to have LOH at least one microsatellite site in tumor tissue,and 66(97.O%)in serum samples.The detection rate for LOH was not significantly associated with the clinical stage of esophageal can-cer.There was a tendency toward more frequent LOH in the serum in patients with lymph node involvement and higher histological grade.Conclusion The presence of tumor can be determined by microsatellite analysis in the serum of patients with esphageal can-cer,andserum microsatellite anaysis will be hilpful of the early detection of esophageal cancer in high-risk populations. Key words: Esophageal cancer Serum Microsatellite instability Chromosome deletion