Some early data reported low frequencies of 9p loss and p16 mutations in basal cell carcinomas, in contrast to findings from squamous cell carcinomas.14,25 More recently, Saridaki et al., although reporting a lack of mutations of p16INK4a/p19ARF among Greek patients with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, found similarly high frequencies of heterozygosity loss at the 9p21-p22 region in basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.26,27 These data contrast with ours, and could reflect a particular genetic pattern related to our population. This evidence concerns the gene CDKN2A and neoplasm.