Allele-Specific Chromosome 3p Deletions Occur at an Early Stage in the Pathogenesis of Lung Carcinoma

Deletions in the short arm of chromosome 3 occur at the earliest stage (hyperplasia) in the pathogenesis of lung cancer and involve all regions of the respiratory tract. Allele loss is highly specific, but its mechanism remains unknown. Our findings may be of considerable biologic, prognostic, and clinical significance.