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Microsatellite Instability

Theory and Methods

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Book cover Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine ((MIMM,volume 97))

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Abstract

Microsatellites are short sequences of 1–5 bp repeated in tandem throughout the genome, and because of their polymorphic nature, they have been widely used as genetic markers (1). The basis of microsatellite analysis is the PCR amplification across the microsatellite locus of interest with specific primers based on unique DNA sequences flanking the microsatellite repeat. This is followed by electrophoresis of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product to determine the size and, therefore, the numbers of repetitions of the basic motif in the alleles present (2).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Beatson Laboratories, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    Gillian Gifford & Robert Brown

Authors
  1. Gillian Gifford
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  2. Robert Brown
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

    Joseph E. Roulston

  2. Division of Cancer and Molecular Pathology, University Department of Surgery, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

    John M. S. Bartlett

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© 2004 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Gifford, G., Brown, R. (2004). Microsatellite Instability. In: Roulston, J.E., Bartlett, J.M.S. (eds) Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer. Methods in Molecular Medicine, vol 97. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-760-2:237

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-760-2:237

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-160-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-760-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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