Vol 63, No 1 (2013)
Research paper (original)
Published online: 2013-03-08
The prognostic value of DNA microsatellite instability analysis in breast cancer
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2013;63(1):21-27.
Abstract
Introduction. Breast carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies in women, and its carcinogenesis etiology
is still unknown. Loss of MMR function prevents the correction of replicative errors leading to instability of the genome,
and can be detected by polymorphisms in micro satellites (1–6 nucleotide repeat sequences). This is known
as microsatellite instability (MSI), and is a hallmark of MMR dysfunction and can thus be used as a marker of MMR
dysfunction in colorectal and other malignancies.
Material and methods. We studied the presence of MSI in 81 invasive breast cancers and evaluated its relationship
with patient age, tumor size, tumor type, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, brain metastasis, local recurrence,
and other. Microsatellite analysis was performed using 10 markers selected for sensitive detection of microsatellite
instability in breast cancer.
Results. MSI was detected in 40 of 81 cases (49.4%), where MSI-H was in 15 cases (18.5%) and MSI-L was in 25 cases
(30.9%). A statistically significant correlation was observed between MSI and liver metastasis and brain metastasis. We
also found a correlation (not statistically significant) between MSI-H and lobular carcinoma.
Conclusion. The analyzes performed showed that the presence of MSI in breast cancer was associated with shorter
survival and was more aggressive when metastases to the liver and brain were present.
is still unknown. Loss of MMR function prevents the correction of replicative errors leading to instability of the genome,
and can be detected by polymorphisms in micro satellites (1–6 nucleotide repeat sequences). This is known
as microsatellite instability (MSI), and is a hallmark of MMR dysfunction and can thus be used as a marker of MMR
dysfunction in colorectal and other malignancies.
Material and methods. We studied the presence of MSI in 81 invasive breast cancers and evaluated its relationship
with patient age, tumor size, tumor type, lymph node metastasis, liver metastasis, brain metastasis, local recurrence,
and other. Microsatellite analysis was performed using 10 markers selected for sensitive detection of microsatellite
instability in breast cancer.
Results. MSI was detected in 40 of 81 cases (49.4%), where MSI-H was in 15 cases (18.5%) and MSI-L was in 25 cases
(30.9%). A statistically significant correlation was observed between MSI and liver metastasis and brain metastasis. We
also found a correlation (not statistically significant) between MSI-H and lobular carcinoma.
Conclusion. The analyzes performed showed that the presence of MSI in breast cancer was associated with shorter
survival and was more aggressive when metastases to the liver and brain were present.