Microsatellite instability is rarely detected in oesophageal adenocarcinoma

Microsatellite instability and the replication error phenotype are characteristic of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and have also been described in certain sporadic carcinomas. Seventy-four microsatellite DNA markers, covering all non-acrocentric autosomal chromosome arms, were used to determine the frequency of microsatellite instability in adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. Nine of 23 cases (39%) of oesophageal adenocarcinoma demonstrated microsatellite alterations with at least 1 marker, but only 2 cases (9%) displayed alterations with multiple markers. Hence, microsatellite instability is rarely detected in oesophageal adenocarcinomas and is unlikely to play a major role in its development.