title: Microsatellite alterations in bronchial and sputum specimens of lung cancer patients.
abstract: Early diagnosis of lung cancer based on conventional screening procedures has been unable thus far to decrease lung cancer mortality. We explored the possibility of using microsatellite instability in the detection and screening of early phases of lung carcinogenesis. We studied tumor, histopathologically normal bronchial mucosa, and cytological specimens of 51 lung cancer patients for the presence of clonal variations at microsatellite polymorphisms. Microsatellite alterations were found in tumor, normal bronchial mucosa and cytological specimens of 25 of 51 (49%) of the patients. The detection of microsatellite alterations in histopathologically normal bronchial specimens and cytological clinical samples with minimal atypia suggests a possible application of this genetic marker in early diagnosis of precancerous lesions and lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Experimental Oncology, Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miozzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sozzi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Musso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pilotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Incarbone
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pastorino
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pierotti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000473:pathology*; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002999:Clone Cells / Q000473:pathology; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D004273:DNA, Neoplasm