A common region of loss of heterozygosity in Wilms' tumor and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma distal to the D11S988 locus on chromosome 11p15.5

The development of Wilms' tumor has been associated with two genetic loci on chromosome 11:WT1 in 11p13 and WT2 in 11p15.5. Here, we have used loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in Wilms' tumors to narrow the WT2 locus distal to the D11S988 locus. A similar region was apparent for the clinically associated tumor, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. We have also demonstrated that a constitutional chromosome translocation breakpoint associated with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome and an acquired somatic chromosome translocation breakpoint in a rhabdoid tumor each occur in the same chromosomal interval as the smallest region of LOH in Wilms' tumors and embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. Finally, we report the first Wilms' tumor without a cytogenetic deletion that shows targeted LOH for 11p15 and 11p13 while maintaining germline status for 11p14.