title: Relationship between DNA Mismatch Repair Deficiency and Endometrial Cancer.
abstract: Some cases of endometrial cancer are associated with a familial tumor and are referred to as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC or Lynch syndrome). Lynch syndrome is thought to be induced by germline mutation of the DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene. An aberration in the MMR gene prevents accurate repair of base mismatches produced during DNA replication. This phenomenon can lead to an increased frequency of errors in target genes involved in carcinogenesis, resulting in cancerization of the cell. On the other hand, aberrant DNA methylation is thought to play a key role in sporadic endometrial carcinogenesis. Hypermethylation of unmethylated CpG islands in the promoter regions of cancer-related genes associated with DNA repair leads to the cell becoming cancerous. Thus, both genetic and epigenetic changes are intricately involved in the process through which cells become cancerous. In this review, we introduce the latest findings on the DNA mismatch repair pathway in endometrial cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinanomachi 35 Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenta
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authors.lastname: Masuda
authors.forename: Kouji
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authors.lastname: Banno
authors.forename: Megumi
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authors.lastname: Yanokura
authors.forename: Yusuke
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authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Iori
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authors.lastname: Kisu
authors.forename: Arisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Asuka
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authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Nana
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authors.lastname: Asahara
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
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authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Akira
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authors.lastname: Hirasawa
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
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authors.lastname: Susumu
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aoki