microsatellite instability

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ONC-005364",
  "term": "microsatellite instability",
  "field": "Oncology and biomedicine",
  "definitions": [
    "A change that occurs in certain cells (such as cancer cells) in which the number of repeated DNA bases in a microsatellite (a short, repeated sequence of DNA) is different from what it was when the microsatellite was inherited. Microsatellite instability may be caused by mistakes that don’t get corrected when DNA is copied in a cell. It is found most often in colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, and endometrial cancer, but it may also be found in many other types of cancer. Knowing whether a cancer has microsatellite instability may help plan the best treatment. Also called MSI.",
    "A characteristic of cells that contain an abnormality in DNA mismatch repair. The presence of microsatellite instability can be a marker of a germline pathogenic variant in one of the DNA mismatch repair genes, as in the case of Lynch syndrome. Microsatellite instability can also occur sporadically. Also called MSI."
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    "MSI"
  ],
  "references": [
    "NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms",
    "NCI Dictionary of Genetics Terms"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/oncology/microsatellite-instability/"
}