Mitochondrial microsatellite instability in gastric cancer and its precancerous lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of mitochondrial microsatellite instability (mtMSI) in gastric carcinogenesis.


METHODS
MtMSI was measured with PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) in 68 cases of advanced gastric cancer, 40 cases of chronic gastritis, 30 cases of intestinal metaplasia and 20 cases of dysplasia.


RESULTS
MtMSI was observed in 12.5% (5 of 40) of chronic gastritis, 20.0% (6 of 30) of intestinal metaplasia, 25.0% (5 of 20) of dysplasia and 38.2% (26 of 68) of gastric cancer. These findings showed a sequential accumulation of mtMSI in the histological progression from chronic gastritis to gastric cancer. An association of mtMSI with intestinal histological type and distal location was found (P=0.001 and P=0.002), whereas no significant correlation was found between mtMSI and age at diagnosis, sex, tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node spread and clinical stages (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
MtMSI may play an early and important role in the gastric carcinogenesis pathway, especially in the intestinal type and distal gastric cancer.
Ling
Xian-Long
XL
Department of Gastroenterology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Fang
Dian-Chun
DC
Wang
Rong-Quan
RQ
Yang
Shi-Ming
SM
Fang
Li
L
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008679:Metaplasia; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008928:Mitochondria; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*