title: The germline MLH1 K618A variant and susceptibility to Lynch syndrome-associated tumors.
abstract: Missense variants discovered during sequencing of cancer susceptibility genes can be problematic for clinical interpretation. MLH1 K618A, which results from a 2-bp alteration (AAG→GCG) leading to a substitution of lysine to alanine in codon 618, has variously been interpreted as a pathogenic mutation, a variant of unknown significance, and a benign polymorphism. We evaluated the role of MLH1 K618A in predisposition to cancer by genotyping 1512 control subjects to assess its frequency in the general population. We also reviewed the literature concerning MLH1 K618A in families with colorectal cancer. The measured allele frequency of the K618A variant was 0.40%, which is remarkably close to the 0.44% summarized from 2491 control subjects in the literature. K618A was over-represented in families with suspected Lynch syndrome. In 1366 families, the allele frequency was 0.88% (OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3 to 3.5; P = 0.006). In studies of sporadic cancers of the type associated with Lynch syndrome, K618A was over-represented in 1742 cases (allele frequency of 0.83) (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2 to 3.2; P = 0.008). We conclude that MLH1 K618A is not a fully penetrant Lynch syndrome mutation, although it is not without effect, appearing to increase the risk of Lynch syndrome-associated tumors approximately twofold. Our systematic assessment approach may be useful for variants in other genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.forename: Noralane M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Lindor
authors.forename: Fergus J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Couch
authors.forename: W Edward
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Highsmith
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D003123:Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis / Q000235:genetics*; D053843:DNA Mismatch Repair / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D053842:Microsatellite Instability; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1