Identification of mismatch repair gene mutations in young patients with colorectal cancer and in patients with multiple tumours associated with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
- R C Niessen1,*,
- M J W Berends2,*,
- Y Wu1,
- R H Sijmons1,
- H Hollema3,
- M J L Ligtenberg4,
- H E K de Walle1,
- E G E de Vries5,
- A Karrenbeld3,
- C H C M Buys1,
- A G J van der Zee6,
- R M W Hofstra1,
- J H Kleibeuker2
- 1Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- 2Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- 3Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- 4Departments of Human Genetics and Pathology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- 5Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- 6Department of Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence to:
J H Kleibeuker
Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands;j.h.kleibeuker{at}int.umcg.nl
- Accepted 4 April 2006
- Revised 30 March 2006
- Published Online First 24 April 2006
Abstract
Background: Patients with early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) or those with multiple tumours associated with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) raise suspicion of the presence of germline DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutations.
Aim: To analyse the value of family history, microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis and MMR protein staining in the tumour to predict the presence of an MMR gene mutation in such patients.
Methods: In 281 patients diagnosed with CRC before the age of 50 years or with CRC and at least one additional HNPCC-associated cancer, germline mutation analysis in MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 was carried out with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. MSI analysis with five consensus markers and MMR protein staining for MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 were carried out in the tumours.
Results: 25 pathogenic mutations (8 in MLH1, 9 in MSH2 and 8 in MSH6) were found. MSI analysis missed three and immunohistochemistry (IHC) missed two mutation carriers. Sensitivities of family history, MSI analysis and IHC for the presence of a mutation were 76%, 82% and 88%, specificities were 64%, 70% and 84%, and positive predictive values were 19%, 23% and 38%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed the highest odds ratio for IHC (38.3, 95% confidence interval 9.0 to 184). Prevalence of pathogenic germline MMR gene mutations in patients with CRC before the age of 50 years was 6% and in those with ⩾2 HNPCC-associated tumours was 22%. In the second group, no mutation carriers were found among the 29 patients who were diagnosed with their first tumour after the age of 60 years.
Conclusion: Family history, MSI analysis and IHC are indicative parameters to select patients with CRC for MMR gene mutation analysis. The data show that IHC is the best single selection criterion.
- ACI, Amsterdam criteria I
- ACII, Amsterdam criteria II
- CRC, colorectal cancer
- HNPCC, hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer
- IHC, immunohistochemistry
- MMR, mismatch repair
- MSI, microsatellite instability
Footnotes
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↵* RCN and MJWB contributed equally to this work.
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Published Online First 24 April 2006
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Funding: This work was supported by grant numbers RUG 1997–1544 and RUG 2002–2678 from the Dutch Cancer Society.
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Competing interests: None.
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Ethical approval: The medical ethics committees of the University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, and other participating hospitals approved this study (reference number MEC 97/02/037).
