GENETIC INSTABILITY OF MICROSATELLITE SEQUENCES IN MANY NONSMALL CELLLUNG CARCINOMAS

We have analyzed DNA obtained from 38 lung tumors and normal lung or b lood DNA for microsatellite instability. Instability was examined at 1 0 different microsatellite loci on chromosome 3p, as well as loci on 3 q, 11p, 11q, and 13q, and two on Xq. We observed microsatellite instab ility at one or more loci in 13 of the lung tumors analyzed, and this instability ranged from tumors showing instability in only a single mi crosatellite to two adenocarcinomas that had alterations in all 16 tes ted microsatellites. Microsatellite instability could therefore play a significant role in the development of a sizable portion of lung tumo rs.