Microsatellite instability profile of colorectal cancers in Kano Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Published reports indicate that clinicopathologic profile of colorectal cancer (CRC) in Africa is different from that of the developed world. This study investigates microsatellite instability (MSI) status of CRC in relation to clinicopathologic profiles of our patients. Patients and Methods: This was a 2 year (2014-15) retrospective study of CRCs diagnosed at the pathology department of a tertiary hospital. Relevant bio-data of the CRC cases (age, sex and site) were obtained from records. Immunohistochemistry for MLH1 and MSH2 were done on corresponding archived CRC tissue blocks. The results were analyzed with SPSS software and presented in tabular form. Correlations between MSI tumours and clinicopathologic features were done using Fishers exact test (P Results: 53 cases of CRC comprised 37 (69.8%) males and 16 (30.2%) females with a M:F ratio of 2.3:1. The average age of patients was 45.0±15.3 years. Of the 53 cases, 28 (52.8%) exhibited MSI. M:F ratio for MSI CRCs was 3:1. Patients ≤50 years comprised 67.9% (19/28cases) of MSI CRCs (P > 0.05). MSI was detected in 80% of poorly differentiated and 60% of mucinous carcinoma. MSI tumours were mostly located in the left colon (23/28, 82.1%). However, correlation between sex, age, grade, site and MSI status was not statistically significant (P > 0.05) Conclusion: This study provides useful baseline data for future studies. Over half (53%) of CRCs in our study had MSI. Given the fact MSI CRCs are said to have better prognosis, this portends improved survival of our patients if diagnosis is made early.