PROGNOSTIC VALUE AND CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY IN GASTRIC-CANCER

In this study, microsatellite instability (MI) was investigated in 126 gastric carcinomas and correlated with clinicopathological features a nd prognosis; at least 5-10 microsatellite loci were analyzed. MI was identified in 56 (44.5%) of all investigated carcinomas, one locus bei ng affected in 40 (31.7%) carcinomas, two loci being affected in 6 (4. 8%) carcinomas, and more than two loci being affected in 10 (8.0%) car cinomas. MI was correlated with neither age and sex of the patients no r with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, tumor differentiation , or histological type according to WHO and Lauren classification. The frequency of MI was the same in early gastric carcinomas as it was in advanced gastric carcinomas, suggesting that MI arises early during t he tumorigenesis of gastric cancer. No significant differences in surv ival could be demonstrated between patients with MI-negative and MI-po sitive gastric carcinomas.