Objective: To investigate the microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) near the chromosome translocation breakpoints of various types of leukemia.
Methods: PCR amplification of 11 microsatellite loci closely linked to chromosome translocation breakpoints in 30 leukemia patients.
Results: Twenty one in 30 cases of leukemia had MSI in from 1 to 14 microsatellite loci. Eleven in 15 cases of acute leukemia had microsatellite instability (MSI) in more than 1 locus; among them 4 cases had MSI in from 7 to 11 loci. In order of MSI presence rate were D22S315>D9S179>D16S515>D8S559>D12S89. In six cases of chronic myeloid leukemia, 4 cases had MSI in more than 3 loci. Thirteen (2/15) percent of acute leukemia patients had loss of heterozygosity (LOH); the rate was higher than that in other leukemia types.
Conclusion: The results of MSI and LOH in many cases indicate that there are a lot of allelic alterations in leukemia patients, but those changes have no special relationship with chromosome translocation breakpoints in various leukemia types.