The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of loss of heterozygosity and the microsatellite instability at multiple tumor suppressor gene loci in gastric adenocarcinomas.

Loss of heterozygosity and the microsatellite instability at several tumor suppressor gene loci were analyzed in 29 primary gastric carcinomas by using microdissection and the polymerase chain reaction.

Twenty-three (79%) of the 29 cases demonstrated loss of heterozygosity at one or more loci. The frequency of loss of heterozygosity at the p53 locus was the highest (63%) and those at the VHL, APC, p16, Rb, MEN1, BRCA1, DPC4, 3p21, and 16p13 region were 41%, 36%, 19%, 29%, 33%, 26%, 21%, 32%, and 11%, respectively. Compared with histological type, loss of heterozygosity was more common in diffuse-type gastric cancer (P<0.01). Interestingly, 9 of 10 tumors with allelic deletion at the p53 locus showed loss of heterozygosity at other tumor suppressor gene loci. The microsatellite instability was also detected in 6 (20%) of the 29 cases at one or more loci.

These data suggest that frequent loss of heterozygosity and the microsatellite instability at multiple tumor suppressor genes might be required for the development and the progression of gastric carcinomas and that p53 allelic loss may be the most frequent event in the development of gastric carcinomas.