The detection of loss of heterozygosity, indicative of the presence of a tumor suppressor gene, has been reported to occur frequently on chromosome 22q in human ovarian cancer. In this study, 110 sporadic ovarian tumors were analyzed using 8 polymorphic loci to define a minimum region of loss. Fifty-eight (53%) tumors showed loss of heterozygosity, and of these 6 exhibited partial loss, enabling the identification of two candidate tumor suppressor gene loci. One region, of less than 0.5 cM, is flanked by D22S284 and CYP2D, and a second region lies distal to D22S276. Analysis of loss of heterozygosity with respect to grade and stage suggests that chromosome 22q loss of heterozygosity is of more relevance in tumor progression rather than initiation.