Complete association of loss of heterozygosity of chromosomes 13 and 17 in osteosarcoma. Mutations of the retinoblastoma (RB1) gene are not confined to retinoblastoma, but are also involved in the development of osteosarcoma. Structural aberrations within the RB1 gene have been studied in fresh samples of eleven cases of osteosarcoma. In five cases a rearrangement was detected, one of which was best explained as a partial duplication. The chromosomal mechanisms by which the nonmutated RB1 allele was lost appeared to be similar in frequency to those that have been reported for retinoblastoma. Loss of heterozygosity was observed for chromosomes 3, 11, 13, 17, and 22. However, when no loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 13 was detected, the other chromosomes retained their heterozygosity as well. A complete association of loss of heterozygosity of chromosomes 13 and 17 was observed. This can be taken as an indication of the involvement of another tumor suppressor gene at chromosome 17 in the initiation of osteosarcoma.