rss

This article has a correction

Please see: J Clin Pathol 2001;54:656

J Clin Pathol 2001;54:484-487 doi:10.1136/jcp.54.6.484

Immunohistochemistry for MSH2 and MHL1: a method for identifying mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancer

  1. J G Stone1,
  2. D Robertson2,
  3. R S Houlston1
  1. 1Section of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Cancer Genetics, Sutton, Surrey SM2
  2. 2Section of Cell Biology and Experimental Pathology, Institute of Cancer Genetics
  1. Dr Houlston r.houlston{at}icr.ac.uk
  • Accepted 15 November 2000

Abstract

Colorectal cancers with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutations characteristically display a high rate of replication errors in simple repetitive sequences detectable as microsatellite instability (MSI). Most are the result of somatic MMR dysfunction; however, a subset are caused by germline mutations. The availability of commercial antibodies for MSH1 and MLH2 offers an alternative strategy to molecular methods for identifying MMR deficient cancers. To evaluate immunohistochemistry, MLH1 and MSH2 expression was studied using monoclonal antibodies in formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded cancers. The immunohistochemical staining patterns of 23 cancers displaying MSI, including four cases with germline mutations, were compared with 23 microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers. All MSS cancers exhibited staining with both antibodies. Twenty two of the MSI cases showed absent MMR expression with either anti-MSH1 or anti-MLH2. The high sensitivity and predictive value of immunohistochemistry in detecting MMR deficiency offers a method of discriminating between MSI and MSS cancers caused by MSH1 and MLH2 dysfunction. The application and suitability of immunohistochemistry for the detection of MSI and as a strategy for prioritising the mutational analysis of MMR genes in routine clinical practice is discussed.

Footnotes

    This Article

    1. Abstract
    2. Full text
    3. PDF
    4. A correction has been published
    5. Authors' correction

    Responses

    1. Submit a response
    2. No responses published

    Register for free content

    The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

    Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.