A new method to detect loss of heterozygosity using cohort heterozygosity comparisons.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) is an important marker for one of the 'two-hits' required for tumor suppressor gene inactivation. Traditional methods for mapping LOH regions require the comparison of both tumor and patient-matched normal DNA samples. However, for many archival samples, patient-matched normal DNA is not available leading to the under-utilization of this important resource in LOH studies. Here we describe a new method for LOH analysis that relies on the genome-wide comparison of heterozygosity of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between cohorts of cases and un-matched healthy control samples. Regions of LOH are defined by consistent decreases in heterozygosity across a genetic region in the case cohort compared to the control cohort.

Methods

DNA

SUBMITTER: Green MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2885361 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature