Different characteristics of mitochondrial microsatellite instability between uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas

Uterine leiomyomas are benign tumors of the uterus that arise clonally from smooth muscle cells of the myometrium and are the most common reason for hysterectomies. The aim of this study was to evaluate mitochondrial microsatellite instability (mtMSI) in uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas to clarify the molecular pathogenetic distinction between these tumors. DNA was isolated from paired normal and tumoral tissues in 50 patients with uterine leiomyomas and 14 patients with leiomyosarcomas. mtMSI was analyzed by using eight microsatellite markers. Our result showed that mitochondrial microsatellite instability was not found in all uterine leiomyomas. However, 3 (21.4%) of 14 patients with leiomyosarcomas had mtMSI and the frequencies of mtMSI in these tumors were significantly different (p < 0.01). Distinctive characteristics of mitochondrial genetic instability in uterine leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas suggested the potential of mtMSI as a marker for differential diagnosis between them.