Microsatellite instability in cervical carcinoma

Objective: To investigate the incidence of microsatellite instability (MI) in cervical carcinoma and its relationship with clinicopathological charact eristics. Study design: A retrospective study of 100 cases of cervical carc inoma. Results: MI, defined as tumor-associated alterations in at least one of five dinucleotide microsatellite markers examined, was detected in 25% of the cervical carcinomas which were observed. There was a nonsignificant trend towards MI occurrence in higher grade tumors, more advanced stage and cases with poor clinical outcome. Conclusion: The results suggest that mic rosatellite instability is present in a subset of cervical carcinoma and ma y be an independent prognostic factor. Further research with more samples i s required. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.