错配修复基因蛋白在结直肠癌诊治中的临床应用

  目的  探讨错配修复基因（mismatch repair gene,MMR）蛋白MLH1、MSH2、MSH6、PMS2在结直肠癌中的表达及在临床中的应用。  方法  选取四川省人民医院2015年1月至2016年9月收治的607例结直肠癌患者,采用免疫组织化学法检测手术标本中MMR蛋白的表达情况,研究其与临床病理学的关系,并评价其在Lynch综合征和散发性结直肠癌筛查中的价值。  结果  607例患者中MMR表达缺失率为35.58%。MMR蛋白表达缺失的阴性组与表达正常的阳性组,在年龄、性别、肿瘤大小、P53、CD34、D2-40的比较,差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）;两组患者在肿瘤位置、分化程度、TNM分期、淋巴结转移、VEGF、Ki-67的比较,差异均有统计学意义（P < 0.05）。联合检测MLH1、MSH2、PSM2、MSH6蛋白可以作为初步筛选Lynch综合征患者的方法。  结论  对结直肠癌患者的手术标本进行MMR检测,筛查Lynch综合征患者和家族成员,进行管理及干预,可降低部分人群患结直肠癌的风险。      

Lynch综合征研究进展

[摘要] Lynch 综合征（Lynch syndrome,LS）是一种常染色体显性遗传病,是由于几种DNA 错配修复（mismatch repair,MMR）基因（MLH1、MSH2、MSH6、PMS2）中的一种出现种系突变,或由于EPCAM基因缺失导致MSH2 表达丢失引起。LS是遗传性结直肠癌（colorectal cancer,CRC）最常见的原因,其特征为患CRC和子宫内膜癌（endometrial cancer,EC）的风险显著增加,且存在发生其他几种恶性肿瘤的风险。对于LS 的诊断,目前几种临床病理学标准（如阿姆斯特丹标准等）已被用于识别存在Lynch 综合征风险的个体。然而,这些标准的敏感性及特异性有限,仍有赖于临床医生对LS的警惕并关注其家族史。伴有MMR基因变异的LS相关肿瘤通常具有微卫星高度不稳定的特征,由于移码突变新抗原的存在,可以激发强大而持久的免疫反应和肿瘤浸润淋巴细胞浸润,所以对于LS患者,免疫检查点抑制剂将会是一种很有前景的治疗方法。由于LS是一种基因遗传病,与DNA错配修复缺陷具有独特关系,对其的充分理解对相关肿瘤的诊断、预防和治疗具有重要的临床意义。     

Lynch 综合征相关性子宫内膜癌的研究进展

摘 要：Lynch综合征相关性子宫内膜癌(LS-EC)与散发性子宫内膜癌不同,该病是常染色体显性遗传病,是由于DNA错配修复基因（MLH1、MSH2、MSH6 及PMS2）的突变或异常表达引起的。LS-EC再发肿瘤风险较高,及时诊断及治疗非常重要。近年来发达国家采用免疫组化、微卫星不稳定性和基因检测等相结合的分子诊断方法,大大提高了LS-EC的诊断率。全文针对LS-EC的遗传学改变、临床病理特点、筛查及诊断、预防、治疗进行了综述。     

结直肠癌组织MSI状态及其与临床病理参数之间的相关性

目的:分析结直肠癌组织微卫星不稳定（MSI）状态及其与临床病理参数之间的相关性。方法:利用免疫组化法检测MLH1、MSH2、MSH6、PMS2错配修复蛋白的表达,分析441例结直肠癌组织的MSI状态。结果:免疫组化检测发现,441例结直肠癌中,微卫星稳定（MSS）为375例,MLH1、MSH2、MSH6、PMS2错配修复蛋白任一表达缺失共66例,占14.97%（66/441）;其中MLH1、MSH2、MSH6、PMS2单一表达缺失率分别为1.4%（6/441）、0.2%（1/441）、0.7%（3/441）、2.3%（10/441）;MLH1和PMS2同时表达缺失率9.1%（40/441）,MSH2和MSH6同时表达缺失率1.1%（5/441）,MSH6和PMS2同时表达缺失率0.2%（1/441）。结直肠癌患者MSI与MSS在民族、肿瘤部位、分化程度、T分期、N分期、肿瘤大小等临床病理特征方面存在差异,而在性别、年龄、大体类型、病理类型、M分期、临床分期、神经和脉管侵犯方面均无明显差异。结论:新疆少数民族、右半结肠、低分化、T4、N0、肿瘤＞5 cm的结直肠癌患者更易发生MSI。     

结直肠癌组织错配修复蛋白表达与临床病理特征关系的随机森林分析

目的 分析结直肠癌组织中错配修复(MMR)蛋白MutL同系物1(MLH1)、MutS同系物2(MSH2)、MSH6和减数分裂后分离时增加2(PMS2)表达与临床病理特征的关联性,并进一步探讨MMR缺陷(dMMR)结直肠癌组织中4种MMR蛋白之间表达的相关性.方法 回顾性收集2018-03-27-2020-11-27皖南...     

基于中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的家族性结直肠癌胚系突变谱多中心研究

  目的  Lynch综合征作为一种常染色体显性遗传的恶性肿瘤综合征,基于肿瘤家族史对患者进行初筛是目前Lynch综合征筛查的主要手段。本研究旨在明确符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者最终确诊为Lynch综合征的比例,以及二代测序在Lynch综合征临床诊断中的应用。  方法  2017年2月至2019年10月纳入85例就诊于国内7家医院（浙江大学医学院附属第二医院、北京协和医院、江苏省人民医院、北京大学第一医院、辽宁省肿瘤医院、四川大学华西医院和温州市中心医院）无血缘关系的符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者,利用含61个已报道与遗传性肿瘤相关基因的二代测序平台检测入组先证者的胚系突变。对于检出的临床意义不明的基因变异,通过一代测序、多重荧光PCR毛细管电泳检测肿瘤组织微卫星状态等手段判读该变异的致病意义。  结果  符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者中,28.2%检测出Lynch综合征关键基因已知致病性或疑似致病性胚系突变,另外15.3%患者携带上述基因的临床意义不明的变异。通过对这些变异进行分析,本研究认为MLH1基因c.2240_2255 delCTGATCTATACAAAGT通读突变为遗传性结直肠癌的致病性突变;然而目前尚缺乏充足证据证明MLH3 基因第2～11号外显子大片段重复与遗传性结直肠癌的发生存在密切联系。  结论  本研究发现同样基于符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者,与既往利用一代测序的研究报道相比,二代测序并未提高Lynch综合征的确诊率。但是,二代测序会带来大量临床意义不明的突变。需要谨慎对待尚未明确的基因突变检测结果,必要时应该进行更深入的家系研究和更全面的分子检测以明确这些突变的致病意义。      

基于中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的家族性结直肠癌胚系突变谱多中心研究

  目的  Lynch综合征作为一种常染色体显性遗传的恶性肿瘤综合征,基于肿瘤家族史对患者进行初筛是目前Lynch综合征筛查的主要手段。本研究旨在明确符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者最终确诊为Lynch综合征的比例,以及二代测序在Lynch综合征临床诊断中的应用。  方法  2017年2月至2019年10月纳入85例就诊于国内7家医院（浙江大学医学院附属第二医院、北京协和医院、江苏省人民医院、北京大学第一医院、辽宁省肿瘤医院、四川大学华西医院和温州市中心医院）无血缘关系的符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者,利用含61个已报道与遗传性肿瘤相关基因的二代测序平台检测入组先证者的胚系突变。对于检出的临床意义不明的基因变异,通过一代测序、多重荧光PCR毛细管电泳检测肿瘤组织微卫星状态等手段判读该变异的致病意义。  结果  符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者中,28.2%检测出Lynch综合征关键基因已知致病性或疑似致病性胚系突变,另外15.3%患者携带上述基因的临床意义不明的变异。通过对这些变异进行分析,本研究认为MLH1基因c.2240_2255 delCTGATCTATACAAAGT通读突变为遗传性结直肠癌的致病性突变;然而目前尚缺乏充足证据证明MLH3 基因第2～11号外显子大片段重复与遗传性结直肠癌的发生存在密切联系。  结论  本研究发现同样基于符合中国人Lynch综合征临床标准的结直肠癌患者,与既往利用一代测序的研究报道相比,二代测序并未提高Lynch综合征的确诊率。但是,二代测序会带来大量临床意义不明的突变。需要谨慎对待尚未明确的基因突变检测结果,必要时应该进行更深入的家系研究和更全面的分子检测以明确这些突变的致病意义。      

林奇综合征发生发展的研究进展

林奇综合征是最常见的遗传性结直肠癌综合征,其主要特征是对多系统癌症的易感性,主要表现为结直肠癌和子宫内膜癌的发生.林奇综合征的致癌倾向源于一组错配修复蛋白的基因结构的改变,失活的错配修复蛋白导致基因组中的微卫星高度不稳定性,随着时间的推移,微卫星以及基因组其他部位突变的积累可以影响细胞内重要功能蛋白的数量或活性,从而引...     

遗传性非息肉病性结直肠癌家系先证者胚系MSH6基因单核苷酸多态性研究

遗传性非息肉病性结直肠癌(hereditary nonpolyposiscolorectal cancer,HNPCC)是一种由错配修复基因突变引起的常染色体显性遗传病,其临床发病率占全部结直肠癌的5%～10%[1].约10%左右的HNPCC与MSH6基因的胚系突变相关[2].     

缺氧对人小细胞肺癌H446细胞DNA错配修复基因MLH1、MSH2表达的影响及其机制探讨

背景与目的:缺氧对DNA错配修复系统(mismatch repair, MMR)活性的调控是肿瘤细胞遗传不稳定的重要原因,但其机制尚不完全清楚.本研究拟观察缺氧状态下人小细胞肺癌H446细胞DNA错配修复基因MLH1、MSH2的表达变化,初步探讨DNA甲基化在其中的作用.方法:应用RT-PCR、Western blot等方法检测H446细胞在缺氧状态下以及甲基转移酶抑制剂5-氮杂-2′-脱氧胞苷(5-Aza-CdR)处理后MLH1、MSH2基因的表达水平,同时,采用甲基化特异性PCR(MSP)方法检测MLH1、MSH2基因启动子CpG岛甲基化状态.结果:缺氧状态下,H446细胞MLH1、MSH2基因在转录和翻译水平均显著性降低.同时,随着缺氧时间延长,MLH1基因启动子逐渐由非甲基化状态、部分甲基化状态转变为完全甲基化状态,而MSH2基因启动子则直接由非甲基化状态转变为完全甲基化状态.甲基转移酶抑制剂5-Aza-CdR可使MLH1、MSH2基因表达水平有所恢复,但去除5-Aza-CdR后其表达再次下调.结论:启动子甲基化可能是缺氧诱导H446细胞显著性下调MLH1、MSH2基因表达的重要机制,甲基转移酶抑制剂5-Aza-CdR可恢复其表达.     

Screening for Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) among endometrial cancer patients

Endometrial cancer is the most common cancer in women with Lynch syndrome. The identification of individuals with Lynch syndrome is desirable because they can benefit from increased cancer surveillance. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and desirability of molecular screening for Lynch syndrome in all endometrial cancer patients. Unselected endometrial cancer patients (N = 543) were studied. All tumors underwent microsatellite instability (MSI) testing. Patients with MSI-positive tumors underwent testing for germ line mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. Of 543 tumors studied, 118 (21.7%) were MSI positive (98 of 118 MSI high and 20 of 118 MSI low). All 118 patients with MSI-positive tumors had mutation testing, and nine of them had deleterious germ line mutations (one MLH1, three MSH2, and five MSH6). In addition, one case with an MSI-negative tumor had abnormal MSH6 immunohistochemical staining and was subsequently found to have a mutation in MSH6. Immunohistochemical staining was consistent with the mutation result in all seven truncating mutation-positive cases but was not consistent in two of the three missense mutation cases. We conclude that in central Ohio, at least 1.8% (95% confidence interval, 0.9-3.5%) of newly diagnosed endometrial cancer patients had Lynch syndrome. Seven of the 10 Lynch syndrome patients did not meet any published criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer, and six of them were diagnosed at age >50. Studying all endometrial cancer patients for Lynch syndrome using a combination of MSI and immunohistochemistry for molecular prescreening followed by gene sequencing and deletion analysis is feasible and may be desirable.     

Recurring MLH1 deleterious mutations in unrelated Chinese Lynch syndrome families in Singapore

Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder due to mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, causing young onset colorectal cancer and extra-colonic cancers such as endometrial and stomach cancers. We genotyped MLH1 and MSH2 in patients suspected to have Lynch syndrome and correlated patient clinical characteristics and family history with deleterious mutations. Eighty-five unrelated patients participated. Comprehensive sequencing was performed for MLH1 and MSH2, including all coding regions, splice-site junctions and promoter regions. Of the 29 different mutations found, 11 were deleterious, of which 10 were in MLH1 and 1 in MSH2. Three recurring MLH1 deleterious mutations were found in two unrelated Chinese patients each, and haplotype analysis suggested common ancestral origin for the recurring mutations and possible founder effect. Families with clinical diagnosis of HNPCC (i.e. family history which fulfills the Amsterdam I/II criteria) was the strongest predictor for finding a deleterious mutation, and stomach cancer was the most commonly reported extra-colonic cancer in families found with a deleterious MLH1 or MSH2 mutation. The observation of recurring deleterious MLH1 mutations in our study suggests possible founder effect and may have implications on genetic testing in Asia.     

The frequency of Muir-Torre syndrome among Lynch syndrome families

Lynch syndrome is the predisposition to visceral malignancies that are associated with deleterious germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, including MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2. Muir-Torre syndrome is a variant of Lynch syndrome that includes a predisposition to certain skin tumors. We determined the frequency of Muir-Torre syndrome among 50 Lynch syndrome families that were ascertained from a population-based series of cancer patients who were newly diagnosed with colorectal or endometrial carcinoma. Histories of Muir-Torre syndrome-associated skin tumors were documented during counseling of family members. Muir-Torre syndrome was observed in 14 (28%) of 50 families and in 14 (9.2%) of 152 individuals with Lynch syndrome. Four (44%) of nine families with MLH1 mutations had a member with Muir-Torre syndrome compared with 10 (42%) of 24 families with MSH2 mutations (P = .302). Families who carried the c.942+3A>T MSH2 gene mutation had a higher frequency of Muir-Torre syndrome than families who carried other mutations in the MSH2 gene (75% vs 25%; P = .026). Muir-Torre syndrome was not found in families with mutations in the MSH6 or PMS2 genes. Our results suggest that Muir-Torre syndrome is simply a variant of Lynch syndrome. Screening for Muir-Torre syndrome-associated skin lesions among patients with Lynch syndrome is recommended.     

Association of low-risk MSH3 and MSH2 variant alleles with Lynch syndrome: probability of synergistic effects

Mutations in the MLH1 and MSH2 genes account for a majority of cases of families with Lynch Syndrome. Germ-line mutations in MSH6, PMS2 and MLH3 are responsible for disease in a minority of cases, usually associated with milder and variable phenotypes. No germ-line mutations in MSH3 have so far been associated with Lynch Syndrome, although it is known that impaired MSH3 activity leads to a partial defect in mismatch repair (MMR), with low levels of microsatellite instability at the loci with dinucleotide repeats in colorectal cancer (CRC), thus suggesting a role for MSH3 in carcinogenesis. To determine a possible role of MSH3 as predisposing to CRC in Lynch syndrome, we screened MSH3 for germ-line mutations in 79 unrelated Lynch patients who were negative for pathogenetic mutations in MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6. We found 13 mutant alleles, including silent, missense and intronic variants. These variants were identified through denaturing high performance liquid chromatography and subsequent DNA sequencing. In one Lynch family, the index case with early-onset colon cancer was a carrier of a polymorphism in the MSH2 gene and two variants in the MSH3 gene. These variants were associated with the disease in the family, thus suggesting the involvement of MSH3 in colon tumour progression. We hypothesise a model in which variants of the MSH3 gene behave as low-risk alleles that contribute to the risk of colon cancer in Lynch families, mostly with other low-risk alleles of MMR genes.     

Phenotype comparison of MLH1 and MSH2 mutation carriers in a cohort of 1,914 individuals undergoing clinical genetic testing in the United States

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Lynch syndrome is caused by germ-line mismatch repair gene mutations. We examined the phenotypic differences between MLH1 and MSH2 gene mutation carriers and whether mutation type (point versus large rearrangement) affected phenotypic expression. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional prevalence study of 1,914 unrelated probands undergoing clinical genetic testing for MLH1 and MSH2 mutations at a commercial laboratory. RESULTS: Fifteen percent (285 of 1,914) of subjects had pathogenic mutations (112 MLH1, 173 MSH2). MLH1 carriers had a higher prevalence of colorectal cancer (79% versus 69%, P = 0.08) and younger mean age at diagnosis (42.2 versus 44.8 years, P = 0.03) than MSH2 carriers. Forty-one percent of female carriers had endometrial cancer and prevalence was similar in both groups. Other cancers were more frequent in MSH2 carriers (24% versus 9%, P = 0.001) and their families (P < 0.001). Multivariable analyses confirmed these associations. Of the 1,016 subjects who underwent Southern blot analysis, 42 had large rearrangements (7 MLH1, 35 MSH2). There were no phenotypic differences between carriers with large rearrangements and point mutations. CONCLUSIONS: In this large study of mismatch repair gene mutation carriers from the United States, MLH1 carriers had more colorectal cancer than MSH2 carriers whereas endometrial cancer prevalence was similar. Large genomic rearrangements were more frequent in the MSH2 gene. MSH2 carriers and their relatives have more extracolonic nonendometrial Lynch syndrome-associated cancers and may benefit from additional screening.     

Mutation and association analyses of the candidate genes ESR1, ESR2, MAX, PCNA, and KAT2A in patients with unexplained MSH2-deficient tumors

Lynch syndrome (Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer/HNPCC) is a cancer susceptibility syndrome which is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes, in particular MLH1 and MSH2. A pathogenic germline mutation in the respective MMR gene is suggested by the finding of a loss of a mismatch repair protein in tumor tissue on immunohistochemical staining combined with an early age of onset and/or the familial occurrence of colorectal cancer. Pathogenic germline mutations are identifiable in around 60% of patients suspected of Lynch syndrome, depending on the familial occurrence. The aim of the present study was to identify novel susceptibility genes for Lynch syndrome. 64 Healthy controls and 64 Lynch syndrome patients with no pathogenic MSH2 mutation but a loss of MSH2 expression in their tumor tissue were screened for rare and disease causing germline mutations in the functional candidate genes ESR1, ESR2, MAX, PCNA, and KAT2A. Thirty variants were identified, and these were then genotyped in an independent sample of 36 mutation negative Lynch syndrome patients and 234 controls. Since a trend towards association was observed for KAT2A, an additional set of 21 tagging SNPs was analyzed at this locus in a final case-control sample of 142 mutation negative Lynch syndrome patients and 298 controls. The mutation analysis failed to reveal any rare disease-causing mutations. No association was found at the single-marker or haplotypic level for any common disease-modifying variant. The present results suggest that neither rare nor common genetic variants in ESR1, ESR2, MAX, PCNA, or KAT2A contribute to the development of Lynch syndrome.     

Screening for germline mutations of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2 genes in Slovenian colorectal cancer patients: implications for a population specific detection strategy of Lynch syndrome

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is present in more than 90% of colorectal cancers of patients with Lynch syndrome, and is therefore a feasible marker for the disease. Mutations in MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2, which are one of the main causes of deficient mismatch repair and subsequent MSI, have been linked to the disease. In order to establish the role of each of the 4 genes in Slovenian Lynch syndrome patients, we performed MSI analysis on 593 unselected CRC patients and subsequently searched for the presence of point mutations, larger genomic rearrangements and MLH1 promoter hypermethylation in patients with MSI-high tumours. We detected 43 (7.3%) patients with MSI-H tumours, of which 7 patients (1.3%) harboured germline defects: 2 in MLH1, 4 in MSH2, 1 in PMS2 and none in MSH6. Twenty-nine germline sequence variations of unknown significance and 17 deleterious somatic mutations were found. MLH1 promoter methylation was detected in 56% of patients without detected germline defects and in 1 (14%) suspected Lynch syndrome. Due to the minor role of germline MSH6 mutations, we adapted the Lynch syndrome detection strategy for the Slovenian population of CRC patients, whereby germline alterations should be first sought in MLH1 and MSH2 followed by a search for larger genomic rearrangements in these two genes. When no germline mutations are found tumors should be further tested for the presence of germline defects in PMS2 and MSH6. The choice about which gene should be tested first can be guided more accurately by the immunohistochemical analysis. Our study demonstrates that the incidence of MMR mutations in a population should be known prior to the application of one of several suggested strategies for detection of Lynch syndrome.     

Selection of patients with germline <Emphasis Type="Italic">MLH1</Emphasis> mutated Lynch syndrome by determination of <Emphasis Type="Italic">MLH1</Emphasis> methylation and <Emphasis Type="Italic">BRAF</Emphasis> mutation

Lynch syndrome is one of the most common hereditary colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome and is caused by germline mutations of MLH1, MSH2 and more rarely MSH6, PMS2, MLH3 genes. Whereas the absence of MSH2 protein is predictive of Lynch syndrome, it is not the case for the absence of MLH1 protein. The purpose of this study was to develop a sensitive and cost effective algorithm to select Lynch syndrome cases among patients with MLH1 immunohistochemical silencing. Eleven sporadic CRC and 16 Lynch syndrome cases with MLH1 protein abnormalities were selected. The BRAF c.1799T> A mutation (p.Val600Glu) was analyzed by direct sequencing after PCR amplification of exon 15. Methylation of MLH1 promoter was determined by Methylation-Sensitive Single-Strand Conformation Analysis. In patients with Lynch syndrome, there was no BRAF mutation and only one case showed MLH1 methylation (6%). In sporadic CRC, all cases were MLH1 methylated (100%) and 8 out of 11 cases carried the above BRAF mutation (73%) whereas only 3 cases were BRAF wild type (27%). We propose the following algorithm: (1) no further molecular analysis should be performed for CRC exhibiting MLH1 methylation and BRAF mutation, and these cases should be considered as sporadic CRC; (2) CRC with unmethylated MLH1 and negative for BRAF mutation should be considered as Lynch syndrome; and (3) only a small fraction of CRC with MLH1 promoter methylation but negative for BRAF mutation should be true Lynch syndrome patients. These potentially Lynch syndrome patients should be offered genetic counselling before searching for MLH1 gene mutations.     

Characterization of germline mutations of MLH1 and MSH2 in unrelated south American suspected Lynch syndrome individuals

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant syndrome that predisposes individuals to development of cancers early in life. These cancers are mainly the following: colorectal, endometrial, ovarian, small intestine, stomach and urinary tract cancers. LS is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes (MMR), mostly MLH1 and MSH2, which are responsible for more than 85% of known germline mutations. To search for germline mutations in MLH1 and MSH2 genes in 123 unrelated South American suspected LS patients (Bethesda or Amsterdam Criteria) DNA was obtained from peripheral blood, and PCR was performed followed by direct sequencing in both directions of all exons and intron-exon junctions regions of the MLH1 and MSH2 genes. MLH1 or MSH2 pathogenic mutations were found in 28.45% (34/123) of the individuals, where 25/57 (43.85%) fulfilled Amsterdam I, II and 9/66 (13.63%) the Bethesda criteria. The mutations found in both genes were as follows: nonsense (35.3%), frameshift (26.47%), splicing (23.52%), and missense (9%). Thirteen alterations (35.14%) were described for the first time. The data reported in this study add new information about MLH1 and MSH2 gene mutations and contribute to better characterize LS in Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The high rate of novel mutations demonstrates the importance of defining MLH1 and MSH2 mutations in distinct LS populations.     

Germline MLH1 and MSH2 mutations in Italian pancreatic cancer patients with suspected Lynch syndrome

Lynch syndrome is an inherited cancer syndrome caused by germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2. LS predisposes to high risk of early-onset colorectal, endometrial and other tumors. Patients with Lynch syndrome have also been shown to have an elevated risk for pancreatic cancer (PC). In this study, we aimed to estimate the frequency of suspected Lynch syndrome among a series of 135 PC patients. Further, we wanted to determine the frequency of MMR gene mutations in the suspected Lynch syndrome cases. We also aimed to verify the pathogenicity of any novel non-truncating variants we might detect with a functional assay. Based on personal and/or familial cancer history, 19 patients were classified as suspected Lynch syndrome cases. DNA material for mutation analysis was available for eleven of them. Four patients were found to carry a total of five MLH1 or MSH2 variants. Of these, MSH2-Q402X, MSH2-G322D, and MLH1-K618A had been previously reported, while the MSH2-E205Q and MSH2-V367I variants were novel. MSH2-Q402X is a known stop mutation and reported here for the first time here in association with PC. MLH1-K618A was found in the unaffected branch of a kindred, suggesting that it may be a polymorphism or a low penetrance variant. MSH2-G322D likely does not cause a MMR defect, although this variant has also been associated with breast cancer as indeed seen in our patient. The novel variants MSH2-E205Q and MSH2-V367I were found in the same patient. Both novel variants were however functional in the applied MMR assay. Our findings suggest that only a small subset of pancreatic cancer patients carry pathogenic MMR mutations.