Analysis of inter-(simple sequence repeat) PCR products from human colorectal cancers.

Genomic instability is a fundamental characteristic of solid tumors, and understanding genomic instability should significantly clarify the process of tumorigenesis. We adapted the sampling technique of inter-(simple sequence repeat) PCR [inter-(SSR) PCR] to measure genetic alterations between simple sequence repeats in colorectal tumors. It becomes important to precisely define both normal and altered inter-(SSR) PCR products. BLAT searches of 131 cloned inter-(SSR) PCR sequences reveal that inter-(SSR) PCR products are located on almost all the chromosomes except chromosome Y, indicating that inter-(SSR) PCR samples a representative diverse range of the genome. We confirm that a change in the pattern of the inter-(SSR) PCR products as seen on gel electrophoresis reflects a true alteration within the genome.