title: Synchronous gynecologic malignancy and preliminary results of Lynch syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome that increases the risks of colorectal and gynecologic malignancies such as endometrial and ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that mutations in mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MSH6, and MLH1) are associated with Lynch syndrome. The aim of our study was to estimate the value of MSH2, MSH6, and MLH1 immunohistochemistry based on family history in a Korean sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty six women with synchronous gynecologic tumors of endometrial and ovarian cancer were identified among patients being treated at our institution. Among them, 32 patients had tumor blocks (total 62 slides) available for analysis. According to a diagnostic algorithm, we performed immunohistochemistry analyses. Staining was scored based on intensity and proportion (negative or 0: intensity undetectable or minimal, proportion <5%; weak or 1+: intensity mild, proportion 5-30%; strong or 2+: intensity moderate to marked, proportion 30-99%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 32 eligible patients, 9 (28%) had a family history of cancer. Six patients (19%) were negative for MLH1; among them, four (4/6) were negative at both sites. Nine patients (28%) were negative for MSH2 or MSH6 at both sites or negative for both MSH2 and MSH6. Among these three patients showed negative staining for both sites. The three patients showing negative staining for MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 at both sites with family history were considered to be the screening positive groups of Lynch syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, the frequency of Lynch syndrome associated immunohistochemical staining (MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6) group was estimated as 9% (3/32) among Korean women with synchronous gynecologic tumors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Kyu
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: In-Gu
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Seo-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chel Hun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Tae-Joong
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jeong-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Duk-Soo
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Byoung-Gie
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim