Microsatellite instability in prostate cancer.
Assessment of the genetic instability of a microsatellite has indicated a new mechanism in human carcinogenesis. Examination was made to determine whether microsatellite instability is associated with the onset of prostate cancer. Twenty-nine DNA samples from 24 primary prostate cancer, two metastatic lymph-node and three benign prostatic hypertrophy patients were used. Differences in unrelated microsatellites for tumor and normal DNA were detected in nine of 24 (37.5%) cases. Seven of 11 (63.6%) with poorly differentiated adenocarcinomas and seven of 15 (46.7%) stage D metastatic patients showed somatic instability in a number of microsatellites. Statistically significant differences in well to moderately differentiated tumors and poorly differentiated cancer (P = 0.015, Chi-square test), were detected but not for stages A-C and D (P = 0.2311). Genetic alterations would thus appear to be rare in low grade and/or early prostate cancers but more common in high grade and/or advanced prostate cancers.
Uchida
T
T
Department of Urology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Wada
C
C
Wang
C
C
Ishida
H
H
Egawa
S
S
Yokoyama
E
E
Ohtani
H
H
Koshiba
K
K
D004261:DNA Replication; D004276:DNA, Satellite / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D004276:DNA, Satellite