Evaluation of colorectal adenocarcinomas at single-institution with respect to microsatellite instability.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Hereditary non-poliposis colorectal cancers exhibit a high rate of microsatellite instability. Comparative studies involving stage and other prognostic parameters demonstrate a better prognosis in the presence of microsatellite instability versus colon cancers without microsatellite instability.

METHODS: Our study included 608 cases diagnosed with colorectal adenocarcinoma by our laboratory between 2004-2010. The cases were re-evaluated with respect to criteria defined for MSI, taking into consideration age, anatomic localization, and histopathological criteria. Immunohistochemical study was performed in appropriate blocks for using MLH-1, MSH-2, MSH-6, and PMS-2.

RESULTS: The specimens were re-evaluated according to the histological criteria defined for microsatellite instability. Anti-MLH-1, anti-MSH-2, anti-MSH-6, and anti-PMS-2 antibodies were applied to the paraffin blocks of 27 cases which presented morphological criteria suggestive of DNA repair mutation and had a high Mspath score. Immunohistochemical study with MLH-1, MSH-2, MSH-6, and PMS-2 for the analysis of mismatch repair was refined using the cases with higher Mspath scores.

CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we reviewed the clinical and histopathological features of 608 cases with colorectal adenocarcinoma diagnosed in our laboratory between 2004-2010 and assessed pathological features in terms of microsatellite instability. The results were discussed in view of the literature.