Large genomic rearrangements and germline epimutations in Lynch syndrome.
In one-third of families fulfilling the Amsterdam criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer/Lynch syndrome, and a majority of those not fulfilling these criteria point mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes are not found. The role of large genomic rearrangements and germline epimutations in MLH1, MSH2 and MSH6 was evaluated in 2 such cohorts. All 45 index patients were mutation-negative by genomic sequencing and testing for a prevalent population-specific founder mutation, and selectively lacked MMR protein expression in tumor tissue. Eleven patients ("research cohort") represented 11 mutation-negative families among 81 verified or putative Lynch syndrome families from the nation-wide Hereditary Colorectal Cancer Registry of Finland. Thirty-four patients from 33 families ("clinic-based cohort") represented suspected Lynch syndrome patients tested for MMR gene mutations in a diagnostic laboratory during 2004-2007. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and methylation-specific (MS)-MLPA were used to detect rearrangements and epimutations, respectively. Large genomic deletions occurred in 12/45 patients (27%), being present in 3/25 (12%), 9/16 (56%) and 0/4 (0%) among index patients lacking MLH1, MSH2 or MSH6 expression, respectively. Germline epimutations of MLH1, one of which coexisted with a genomic deletion, occurred in 2 patients (4%) and were accompanied by monoallelic expression in mRNA. Large genomic deletions (mainly MSH2) and germline epimutations (MLH1) together explain a significant fraction of point mutation-negative families suspected of Lynch syndrome and are associated with characteristic clinical and family features. Our findings have important implications in the diagnosis and management of such families.
Gylling
Annette
A
Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. annette.gylling@helsinki.fi
Ridanpää
Maaret
M
Vierimaa
Outi
O
Aittomäki
Kristiina
K
Avela
Kristiina
K
Kääriäinen
Helena
H
Laivuori
Hannele
H
Pöyhönen
Minna
M
Sallinen
Satu-Leena
SL
Wallgren-Pettersson
Carina
C
Järvinen
Heikki J
HJ
Mecklin
Jukka-Pekka
JP
Peltomäki
Paivi
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D017931:DNA Primers; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D015321:Gene Rearrangement; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008875:Middle Aged
D017931:DNA Primers