title: The prevalence of microsatellite instability in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Leuvens Kanker Instituut, UH Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Louvain, Belgium.
authors.forename: Harlinde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: De Schutter
authors.forename: Marijke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spaepen
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Opstal
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vander Poorten
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Verbeken
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nuyts
mesh_terms: 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