The prevalence of microsatellite instability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to use the most definitive available techniques to resolve controversy in the literature as to the prevalence of microsatellite instability (MSI) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
Eighty patients with advanced HNSCC were enrolled in the study that examined 20 microsatellite markers with automatic fragment analysis. These markers included ones derived from the NCI reference panel and ones previously reported to detect MSI in HNSCC (HNSCC panel).


RESULTS
Only one of 80 tumors could be considered positive for MSI. For this case, both panels showed MSI-High (8/10 positive markers for the NCI reference panel and 6/10 positive markers for the HNSCC panel). Qualitatively, the observed MSI could be classified as Type B MSI.


CONCLUSIONS
The present results indicate that MSI has a low prevalence in HNSCC.
De Schutter
Harlinde
H
Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Leuvens Kanker Instituut, UH Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
Spaepen
Marijke
M
Van Opstal
Sofie
S
Vander Poorten
Vincent
V
Verbeken
Erik
E
Nuyts
Sandra
S
D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D053843:DNA Mismatch Repair / Q000235:genetics; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D019656:Loss of Heterozygosity; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence