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Microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck
Author(s) -
Koy Susanne,
Plaschke Jens,
Luksch Hella,
Friedrich Katrin,
Kuhlisch Eberhard,
Eckelt Uwe,
Martinez Ramon
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.20857
Subject(s) - loss of heterozygosity , microsatellite instability , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , carcinogenesis , cancer research , biology , dna mismatch repair , genome instability , phenotype , microsatellite , head and neck , chromosome , gene , head and neck cancer , pathology , cancer , medicine , dna repair , genetics , dna , dna damage , allele , surgery
Background. Microsatellite instability (MSI) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has been reported with a wide range of frequencies. The aim of our study was to disclose the frequency and basis of MSI in HNSCC and to correlate MSI and findings on loss of heterozygosity (LOH) with the clinical data. Methods. We analyzed MSI and LOH in 91 tumors. All tumors presenting instability were analyzed for the expression of mismatch repair genes (MMR) proteins. Results. Low‐level microsatellite instability (MSI‐L) was seen in 7.7% of the HNSCC. None of the MSI‐L tumors had aberrant MMR protein expression. LOH rates up to 57% were identified for different regions on chromosome 3p. For the marker D10S197, we found a significant correlation between LOH and tumor stage IV. Conclusion. Our results indicate that MMR gene inactivation is rare among primary HNSCC. In contrast, the MSI‐L phenotype plays a role in a small subset of tumors. LOH on chromosome arm 3p and 10p12 seems to be involved in tumorigenesis and progression HNSCC, respectively. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 30: 1105–1113, 2008