Challenges in the identification of MSH6-associated colorectal cancer: rectal location, less typical histology, and a subset with retained mismatch repair function

Am J Surg Pathol. 2011 Sep;35(9):1391-9. doi: 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318225c3f0.

Abstract

Identification of Lynch syndrome tumors is challenging. This relates particularly to MSH6-associated cases, which show reduced penetrance of colorectal cancer and a higher age at diagnosis. We recorded the clinical and morphologic features of 52 MSH6-associated colorectal cancers in comparison with MLH1/MSH2-mutant tumors and sporadic mismatch repair-deficient cancers. In the MSH6 subset, we confirmed a higher age (median, 56 y) at diagnosis and found a significantly larger proportion (25%) of rectal cancers. Presence of dirty necrosis was the sole histologic component that significantly differed between MSH6 and MLH1/MSH2 tumors. Compared with the sporadic mismatch repair-defective cohort, MSH6 cases had a lower prevalence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and Crohn-like reactions. Mismatch repair defects were identified in 92% of MSH6 tumors, with high concordance between microsatellite instability and loss of immunohistochemical MSH6 expression. The remaining 8% showed a mismatch repair-stable phenotype, which suggests that analysis of additional tumors might be considered in families suspected of Lynch syndrome.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / genetics
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / chemistry
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / diagnosis*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / genetics
  • Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / pathology
  • DNA Mismatch Repair*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Denmark
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / pathology
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Instability
  • Middle Aged
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • Mutation*
  • Necrosis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Rectum / pathology*
  • Registries

Substances

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