Microsatellite instability: A potential game-changer in colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complicated illness caused by a mix of hereditary and environmental factors. It is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, yet it is also one of the most curable if detected early. There are three types of molecular changes in CRC: chromosomal instability, CpG island methylator phenotype, and microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI is an uncommon molecular change generated by a malfunctioning DNA mismatch repair (MMR) system. It occurs in approximately 15–20% of CRC patients. In CRC, MSI has significant prognostic and therapeutic implications. MSI-positive CRC patients have a better prognosis and are more likely to react to treatment. MSI can also be used to identify and categorise CRC tumours.

Keywords

• Microsatellite instability (MSI)
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)
• Chromosomal instability (CIN)
• CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP)
• Prognostic factors
• Surveillance