Correlation of DNA mismatch repair protein hMSH2 immunohistochemistry with p53 and apoptosis in cervical carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Mutations in genes of the DNA mismatch repair system (MMR) are linked to hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and also play a role in sporadic cancer. Besides its repair function, the MMR is the linkage of DNA mismatch recognition to the cell cycle control.


METHODS
The correlation between the immunoreactivity of the MMR protein hMSH2 and p53, apoptosis, clinical prognosis factors and the survival rate in 102 samples of cervical carcinoma was determined.


RESULTS
hMSH2 immunoreactivity was correlated with p53 and weakly correlated with apoptosis. hMSH2 immunoreactivity could not be correlated to any tumour markers, while apoptosis correlated significantly with T stage, FIGO classification and the relative risk of death from cervical cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
In cervical cancer, the processes of DNA mismatch repair, cell cycle control and apoptosis seemingly act in concert. Decreased expression of the hMSH2 mismatch repair protein might lead to a failure in the induction of apoptosis.
Köster
Frank
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, UK-SH, Campus Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany. frank-hl@web.de
Schröer
Andreas
A
Fischer
Dorothea
D
Greweldinger
Thomas
T
Diedrich
Klaus
K
Friedrich
Michael
M
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011379:Prognosis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015996:Survival Rate; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C495901:TP53 protein, human; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein