Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 22, 2026
Ultra-Fast Amplicon-Based Next-Generation Sequencing in Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: September 8, 2023
Detection of microsatellite alterations in bronchial washings in squamous cell lung cancer: the first study from
Puneet Malhotra1, Digambar Behera, Radhika Srinivasan
1Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India. dranshupuneet@yahoo.com
Background:
In recent times, the possibility of detecting lung cancer using microsatellite alterations (microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity) in DNA of bronchial washings has been explored. However, no data regarding the presence of microsatellite alterations in lung cancer are available from India, a country which contributes significantly to the lung cancer burden of the world.
Methods:
Bronchial washings as well as tumor specimens obtained on bronchoscopy were analyzed for the presence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and microsatellite instability (MSI) using the D3S1300 microsatellite marker on chromosome 3p and the TP53 marker on chromosome 17p.
Results:
The sensitivities of the TP53 and D3S1300 loci in bronchial washings were 35% and 45% (combined 50%), respectively, which was significantly better than conventional cytology (positive for malignant cells in 15%). The presence of these microsatellite alterations was not related to the age, cumulative smoking exposure or smoking status (current or former) of patients.
Conclusion:
Microsatellite alterations, particularly LOH, occur in a significant proportion of Indian patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.
