The miR15 and miR16 micro RNA genes are located at 13q14 within a 30 kb regionof loss characteristic of cells from certain cancers, such as cells fromchronic lymphocytic leukemia or prostate cancer. Chronic lymphocytic leukemiaor prostate cancer can be diagnosed by detecting a reduction in miR15 or miR16gene copy number, by determining miR15 or miR16 gene mutational status, or bydetecting a reduction in the RNA transcribed from these genes. The miR15 ormiR16 gene products can inhibit neoplastic or tumorigenic growth of cancerssuch as chronic lymphocytic leukemia or prostate cancer cells whenadministered to subjects suffering from these diseases. Fig. 3b shows a lossof heterozygosity analysis of microsatellite markers D13S272 and D13S273 in 18chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients.
