Thirty-six primary renal cell carcinoma samples and one metastatic lymph node DNA sample were examined for mutations of H-, K-, and N-ras and p53 genes, and genomic instability at (AC)n, (CA)n.(GT)n, and (TA)n.(GT)n repeats. No mutations were noted for H-, K-, and N-ras genes and only 2 of all the samples (5.6%) showed mutations at exon 8 of the p53 gene. Differences in unrelated microsatellites for tumor and normal DNA were detected in 9 (25.0%) of the cases examined. Somatic alterations in seven microsatellites, D3S1228, D3S643, D5S107, LPL5GT, D9S63, D17S261, and DCC, were found in 1 (2.8%), 3 (8.3%), 2 (5.7%), 5 (14.7%), 3 (8.3%), 3 (8.3%), and 3 (8.3%) cases, respectively. Five of 26 (19.2%) clear cell type and 4 of 10 (40.0%) non-clear cell type patients showed DNA instability. Two of 11 (18.2%) grade 1, 5 of 20 (25.0%) grade 2, and 2 of 5 (40.0%) grade 3 patients showed abnormal patterns. One of 2 (50.0%) stage pT1, 4 of 24 (16.7%) stage pT2, and 4 of 10 (40.0%) stage pT3 patients were shown to have microsatellite instability. In 4 of 9 alteration-positive cases (44.4%), mutations in multiple microsatellites were observed. Alterations in microsatellite instability may be more common in non-clear cell type, high-grade, and high-stage renal cell carcinoma patients.