Association of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer-related tumors displaying low microsatellite instability with MSH6 germline mutations

Am J Hum Genet. 1999 Nov;65(5):1291-8. doi: 10.1086/302612.

Abstract

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) (Amsterdam criteria) is often caused by mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes, and tumors of patients with HNPCC show microsatellite instability (MSI-high phenotype). Germline mutations of MMR genes have rarely been found in families that have HNPCC or suspected HNPCC and that do not show microsatellite instability (MSI-low phenotype). Therefore, an MSI-high phenotype is often used as an inclusion criterion for mutation testing of MMR genes. Correction of base-base mismatches is the major function of MSH6. Since mismatches present with an MSI-low phenotype, we assumed that the phenotype in patients with HNPCC-related tumors might be associated with MSH6 germline mutations. We divided 36 patients with suspected HNPCC into an MSI-low group (n=18) and an MSI-high group (n=18), on the basis of the results of MSI testing. Additionally, three unrelated patients from Amsterdam families with MSI-low tumors were investigated. All patients were screened for MSH2, MLH1, and MSH6 mutations. Four presumably causative MSH6 mutations were detected in the patients (22%) who had suspected HNPCC and MSI-low tumors. Furthermore, we detected one frameshift mutation in one of the three patients with HNPCC and MSI-low tumors. In the MSI-high group, one MSH6 missense mutation was found, but the same patient also had an MLH1 mutation, which may explain the MSI-high phenotype. These results suggest that MSH6 may be involved in a substantial proportion of patients with HNPCC or suspected HNPCC and MSI-low tumors. Our data emphasize that an MSI-low phenotype cannot be considered an exclusion criterion for mutation testing of MMR genes in general.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Base Pair Mismatch
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / genetics*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA Repair
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Repeats / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Pedigree
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • G-T mismatch-binding protein
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • MSH2 protein, human
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein

Associated data

  • GENBANK/U73732
  • GENBANK/U73733
  • GENBANK/U73734
  • GENBANK/U73735
  • GENBANK/U73736
  • GENBANK/U73737