Objective： To investigate frequencies of microsatellite instability (MSI) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC),and to discuss the relationship of clinicopathological characteristics of RCC with MSI and LOH.Methods: Twelve microsatellite markers located at chromosomes 3p,9p and 14q were selected to investigate microsatellite alterations (MSI and LOH) in 31 RCC specimens and their paired metastasis specimens by polymerase chain reaction-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis-ethylene dibromide (PCR-PAGE-EB) staining and sequencing.Results: The frequency of MSI could reached 61.3% and that of LOH could reach 54.8%.The highest frequency of MSI was at locus of D9S168 (32.3%); the highest frequency of LOH was at locus of D3S1289 (21.4%). No correlation was found between MSI or LOH and the patients’ age,sex,pathology type and metastastis,except that MSI was correlated with TNM stage of RCC (P<0.05). Conclusion: MSI and LOH of 12 microsatellite markers,except for D3S1566,might be risk factors for RCC.D9S168 and D3S1289 are two sensitive loci in RCC,and they might be close to RCC-associated oncogenes or anti-oncogenes,which may influence the development and progression of RCC.