Homozygous deletion of the MTS1/p16 and MTS2/p15 genes and amplification of the CDK4 gene in glioma

Loci on chromosome 9p are frequently deleted in several malignant tumors, suggesting the presence of putative tumor suppressor genes. The MTS1/p16 and MTS2/p15 genes on 9p are considered to be candidates. Binding of p15 and p16 cell cycle-regulatory proteins to the cyclin dependent protein kinase CDK4 inhibits CDK4/cyclin D dependent phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein. We analysed the DNAs from 37 gliomas of several grades of malignancy for allelic loss of chromosome 9p and abberations of the MTS1/p16 and MTS2/p15 genes. We detected losses of one allele and homozygous deletions at loci, including those of the MTS1/p16 and MTS2/p15 genes, in 10 and 3 tumors, respectively. However, we did not detect any tumor-specific mutation in the two genes. The CDK4 gene was amplified in two malignant gliomas without homozygous deletion of the MTS1/p16 and MTS2/p15 genes and one malignant glioma with an allelic loss of the genes. These data suggest that aberrations of the genes coding for components of the cell cycle-regulatory system occured in at least 15 of 37 gliomas.