Evaluation of BAT-26 as an indicator of microsatellite instability in gallbladder carcinomas.
OBJECTIVE
The genetic pathways of gallbladder cancer are not yet well defined, since the contribution of genetic abnormalities, clarified in other organs, remains questionable. Our aim was to evaluate the role of microsatellite instability in this organs carcinogenesis.


METHODS
We investigated a group of 20 gallbladder carcinomas from Greek patients with regard to alterations in length of the BAT-26 mononucleotide marker--as an indicator of microsatellite instability. The findings were correlated with the presence of p53 and ras mutations, alterations of the bax and TGF-beta RII genes and tumors' clinicopathological features. Polymerase chain reaction and electrophoretic analysis in a non-denaturating 25% polyacrylamide gel was performed for the detection of BAT-26 size variations.


RESULTS
None of our specimens showed microsatellite instability at the BAT-26 marker.


CONCLUSIONS
BAT-26, an indicator of high-level microsatellite instability, may not be sufficient, when used alone, for determining the microsatellite instability status of gallbladder carcinomas, since these may be characterized by low-level instability. Bax and TGF-beta RII genes may not also be targets of instability in this type of tumors.
Saetta
Angelica
A
Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. asaetta@cc.uoa.gr
Koilakou
Stavroula V
SV
Michalopoulos
Nikolaos V
NV
Davaris
Panayiotis S
PS
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D043171:Chromosomal Instability / Q000235:genetics*; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000473:pathology; D005706:Gallbladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000502:physiology; D011905:Genes, ras / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011379:Prognosis; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein