Figure 1.

Schematic representation of the INTER-SSR-PCR (adapted from ref. 16). The PCR product is obtained by using a single primer homologous to dinucleotide repeats and anchored at 3′ by two nonrepetitive sequences. Genomic instability is deduced by the appearance or disappearance of bands when comparing results from tumors and matched normal tissues. The new bands can be larger versions of the original “normal” amplicon because of an insertion in the inter-SSR site, a smaller band because of a deletion or a rearrangement, creating a novel INTER-SSR site. One cannot determine what alteration has occurred without analyzing the PCR products.