Clinical significance of microsatellite instability in sporadic epithelial ovarian tumors.
OBJECTIVE
We evaluated the expression of microsatellite instability (MSI) in sporadic ovarian tumors using 5 standard and 9 new MSI markers to determine the clinical significance of MSI in sporadic epithelial ovarian tumors.


METHODS
MSI was examined in 21 borderline and 25 malignant ovarian tumors. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using the 5 markers recommended by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for colon cancer and 9 additional markers. MSI was determined using fractional analysis by mixing the PCR products and size markers.


RESULTS
Using the 5 conventional MSI markers, MSI was found in 4 of 46 (8.6%) ovarian tumors, including 2 of 21 (9.5%) borderline ovarian tumors and 2 of 25 (8%) malignant ovarian tumors. Using the 9 additional MSI markers, MSI was observed in 7 of 46 (15.2%) ovarian tumors, including 3 of 21 (14.3%) borderline ovarian tumors and 4 of 25 (16%) malignant ovarian tumors. There was no statistically significant difference between MSI and clinicopathological factors, including histology and stage, although there was a trend toward an increased incidence of MSI in the serous type.


CONCLUSIONS
MSI was infrequent in ovarian tumors, including both borderline and malignant tumors. MSI was found to be uncommon in sporadic ovarian tumors, even by using additional MSI markers. The clinical significance of MSI is not strong in patients with sporadic ovarian tumors.
Yoon
Bo-Sung
BS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, and Myongii Hospital, 250 Seongsanno, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
Kim
Young-Tae
YT
Kim
Jae-Hoon
JH
Kim
Sang-Wun
SW
Nam
Eun-Ji
EJ
Cho
Nam-Hoon
NH
Kim
Jae-Wook
JW
Kim
Sunghoon
S
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004273:DNA, Neoplasm