DNA mismatch repair deficiency accelerates endometrial tumorigenesis in Pten heterozygous mice

Am J Pathol. 2002 Apr;160(4):1481-6. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9440(10)62573-4.

Abstract

PTEN mutation and microsatellite instability are two of the most common genetic alterations in uterine endometrioid carcinoma. Furthermore, previous studies have suggested an association between the two alterations, however the basis and consequence of the association is not understood. Recently it has been shown that 100% of female Pten(+/-) mice develop complex atypical hyperplasia by 32 weeks of age that progresses to endometrial carcinoma in approximately 20 to 25% of mice at 40 weeks. In an attempt to expand this mouse model of endometrial tumorigenesis and to further our understanding of the association betweenPten mutations and DNA mismatch repair deficiency, we generated Ptenheterozygous, Mlh1-null (mismatch repair deficient) mice. Significantly, the majority ofPten(+/-)/Mlh1(-/-)mice developed polypoid lesions in the endometrium at 6 to 9 weeks of age. By 14 to 18 weeks, all of the double-mutant mice had lesions histologically similar to those seen inPten(+/-) mice, and two of them exhibited invasive disease. Moreover, the frequency of loss of the wild-type Pten allele in the double-mutant mice at 14 to 18 weeks was similar to that seen in lesions from 40-week-old Pten(+/-) mice. Taken together, our results indicate that DNA mismatch repair deficiency can accelerate endometrial tumorigenesis inPten heterozygous mice and suggests that loss of the wild-type Pten allele is involved in the development/progression of tumors in this setting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Base Pair Mismatch*
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA Repair / physiology*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Endometrial Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Endometrium / metabolism
  • Endometrium / pathology
  • Female
  • Heterozygote*
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Loss of Heterozygosity
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout / genetics
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • Neoplasm Proteins / deficiency
  • Neoplasm Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / genetics*
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / genetics*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Carrier Proteins
  • Mlh1 protein, mouse
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins
  • Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases
  • PTEN Phosphohydrolase
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1