To obtain a more detailed estimate of chromosome 5 loci involvement in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), thirty-two oral SCCs were examined for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q) by PCR-LOH assay using thirteen microsatellite markers. LOH was observed in 16 (51.6%) of 31 informative cases. The incidence or the number of regions showing LOH was significantly higher in moderately and poorly differentiated tumors than in the well differentiated ones. Among the loci tested, D5S178 exhibited LOH in 11 (39.3%) of 28 cases, suggesting this to be the site, at 5q, of a novel candidate tumor suppressor gene. These data indicate that the incidence of LOH at chromosome 5q is high and is associated with oral tumor differentiation.

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