Cell or Molecular Dysfunction
microsatellite instability Audio
[ my-kroh-sa-teh-lite in-stuh-bih-lih-tee ]
Subclass of:
Genomic Instability
Definitions related to microsatellite instability:
  • A change that occurs in the DNA of certain cells (such as tumor cells) in which the number of repeats of microsatellites (short, repeated sequences of DNA) is different than the number of repeats that was in the DNA when it was inherited. The cause of microsatellite instability may be a defect in the ability to repair mistakes made when DNA is copied in the cell.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Genomic instability associated with the presence of hypermutability in specific genetic marker regions resulting from defective DNA mismatch repair.
    NCI
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The occurrence of highly polymorphic mono- and dinucleotide MICROSATELLITE REPEATS in somatic cells. It is a form of genome instability associated with defects in DNA MISMATCH REPAIR.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
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