Significance of microsatellite instability for the prognosis and efficacy prediction in gastric cancer

Abstract

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is caused by the deficiency of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) protein, which is closely related to the occurrence, development, prognosis and efficacy prediction of various tumors. MSI-high (MSI-H) and mismatch repair protein deficiency (dMMR) might be a predictor factor for the good prognosis of patients with gastric cancer, and a negative predictor factor for the chemotherapy efficacy of resectable gastric cancer. MSI-H/dMMR can be used as a marker for predicting the effective treatment outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced gastric cancer, however, the predictive role in palliative chemotherapy of advanced gastric cancer is still unclear. This paper reviews the progress of the association of MSI/MMR with prognosis and efficacy prediction in gastric cancer. Key words: Stomach neoplasms; Microsatellite instability; Mismatch repair protein; Prognosis; Efficacy prediction