Elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotides (EMAST) and mismatch repair gene expression in prostate cancer

Abstract

Elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotides (EMAST), a new form of microsatellite instability (MSI) affecting tetranucleotide repeats, was recently described to be frequent in several tumor types (e.g., bladder, lung, ovarian, and skin cancers). EMAST was found as a form of microsatellite alteration distinct from the MSI phenotype in hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)-related tumors which mostly affects mono- and dinucleotide repeats. To date, no study has investigated the role of EMAST in prostate cancer. We therefore analyzed 81 prostate tumors using 10 markers frequently detecting EMAST in other cancer types and the National Cancer Institute-consensus panel for HNPCC detection plus BAT40. In addition, we investigated p53 gene alterations [loss of heterozygosity (LOH)] and the expression of p53 and the mismatch repair (MMR) genes hMLH1 and hMSH2 on tissue microarrays. EMAST was detected in 4/81 (5%) cases and MSI in 6/79 (7.6%) cases. LOH of p53 was found in 9/45 (20%) informative cases. There was no correlation between MSI status and the histopathological or molecular characteristics of the tumors. Immunohistochemistry revealed p53 positivity in 5/61 (8%) tumors. There was a significant correlation between tumors showing a recurrence within 3 years after treatment and p53 positivity (p=0.029). Reduced hMLH1 expression, but no complete loss, was detected in 9/41 (22%) tumors without any correlations to histopathological or clinical features. Analysis of hMSH2 expression was available from 58/81 (72%) tumors. Staining intensity was as follows: negative in 7/58 (12%), weak staining in 16/58 (27.5%) samples, moderate staining in 19/58 (33%) samples, and strong staining in 16/58 (27.5%) samples. When negative/weak staining and moderate/strong staining were considered as two groups, there was a significant association between hMSH2 expression and tumor recurrence (p=0.039). In conclusion, our data show that MSI and EMAST are infrequent but distinct patterns of MSI in prostate tumors not related to MMR defects, p53 alterations, and histopathological characteristics. p53 positivity and moderate to strong hMSH2 expression of prostate tumors are correlated with early disease recurrence and indicate an unfavorable clinical course of the disease. These two genes could be useful biomarkers for the prediction of patients' outcome and should be analyzed in prospective studies.

No Evidence of Microsatellite Instability and Loss of Mismatch-Repair-Protein Expression in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Penis

“…Approximately 100 ng of DNA was used for PCR amplifications. Primer sequences and PCR conditions were already described previously [15]. In cases without sufficient nontumorous tissue, only DNA from the tu mor tissue was analyzed, using a pentaplex of 5 quasimonomorphic mononucleotide repeats (BAT25, BAT26, NR21, NR24, and NR27).…”

Mismatch Repair Proteins hMLH1 and hMSH2 Are Differently Expressed in the Three Main Subtypes of Sporadic Renal Cell Carcinoma

“…Recently, elevated microsatellite alterations at selected tetranucleotides (EMAST) have been defined as another type of molecular alterations in several tumor types [23][24][25] . Furthermore, it has been shown to be a distinct form of MSI in tumors of the urinary tract [26,27] . EMAST is not linked to known MMR gene defects [23] ; however, p53-dependent DNA repair mechanisms have been described to be impaired in tumors with EMAST [24] .…”

Microsatellite instability at tetranucleotide repeats in sporadic colorectal cancer in Japan

“…Though instability at tetranucleotide repeat loci is observed either independently or in combination with instability at monoand dinucleotide repeat loci, the term EMAST indicates a phenomenon independent of MSI-H. EMAST has been reported with varying frequency in a variety of cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (7,8), cancers of the head and neck (8), bladder (8)(9)(10), kidney (8), nonmelanoma skin (9), prostate (11) and serous ovarian (12). However, the incidence of EMAST and its biological significance in CRC are not clear.…”