Molecular Mapping of the Human 3p Region

Abstract

The aim of this study is to identify the gene(s) on the short arm of human chromosome 3, the loss of which contributes to the occurrence of kidney carcinoma and other solid tumors. The critical role of aberrations detected on the short arm of chromosome 3 have been suggested by recent cytogenetic and molecular studies with restriction fragment length polymorphism in relation to the development of renal cell carcinoma [6, 7], von Hippel Lindau disease [13], lung cancer [9], and breast cancer [3]. The majority of the RCC tumors can be characterized cytogenetically by deletions of the short arm of chromosome 3 from 3pl3 to 3pter [7]. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of tumor-derived DNA have revealed allelic losses of known polymorphic DNA markers localized to various parts of 3p, suggesting the involvement of a tumor suppressor gene, probably near the D3F15S2 marker (3p21), in the origin and/or evolution of renal cell carcinoma [6]. The search for a tumor suppressor gene in the affected region, however, is hampered by the size of the chromosomal segment involved (minimal estimation is 40 Mbp) along the approximately 100 Mbp sized short arm of chromosome 3 [8]. Large areas exist from which no unique sequences are available.