Microsatellite instability analysis in pituitary adenomas.

OBJECTIVE: Mutator phenotypes with microsatellite instability (MSI) are observed in a subset of solid tumors including those localized in the brain. MSI arises from impaired DNA mismatch repair. It can be a potential marker of resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, as demonstrated for several cancer types. Our study aims are to investigate MSI incidence in pituitary adenomas (PA) with a currently recommended methodology.

METHODS: DNA was obtained from 107 patients with PA of which 83 adenomas were nonfunctioning, 13 somatotrophic, 9 lactotrophic and 2 corticotrophic. These were examined for MSI status by PCR and capillary electrophoresis using five quasimonomorphic microsatellite markers: BAT25, BAT26, NR21, NR24 and NR27; in accordance to current Bethesda guidelines.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: No microsatellite instability was detected in the tumor samples thus implying the lack of any clinical usefulness of MSI testing in PA cases.