[Preliminary evaluation of microsatellite instability in skin cancers]

Microsatellites of DNA--short, tandem repeat segments dispersed throughout the human genome--probably play a role in carcinogenesis. In this study the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) was evaluated in skin cancers. Only one specimen (basal cell carcinoma) out of twelve skin cancers exhibited MSI at chromosome 2. MSI was not found in benign skin lesions (seborrhoeic verruca, keratoacanthoma, senile keratosis).