title: Promoter methylation and immunohistochemical expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 in sporadic colorectal cancer: a study from India.
abstract: To determine the etiological factors of human colorectal cancer (CRC) we assessed the frequency and prognostic significance of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes in conjunction with hMLH1 and hMSH2 protein expression in 30 Indian CRC patients. The protein expression and promoter methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2; Mismatch Repair genes (MMR) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and methylation-specific PCR (MSP), respectively. A loss of hMLH1 expression was recognized in 4(13.3%) and loss of hMSH2 expression was recognized in 2(6.6%) of 30 CRC cases whereas 50% tumors showed reduced expression of hMLH1 and 33.3% showed reduced expression of hMSH2 protein. One tumor showed a loss of both hMLH1 and hMSH2 expression. Normal nuclear staining pattern of hMLH1 and hMSH2 was observed in almost all the adjoining and normal mucosa. Promoter hypermethylation of the hMLH1 gene was detected in 15 of 30 CRC cases (50%) and of hMSH2 gene was only in 3 of 30 CRC cases (10%). No promoter methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 genes was observed in adjoining and normal mucosa. Combination of methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 gene was observed in two tumors (6.6%). A significant correlation between histological grade of the tumor, methylation and expression of hMLH1 gene (p < 0.05) was observed. Normal expression of hMLH1 and hMSH2 was seen in all of the unmethylated tumors (100%). Nuclear staining and promoter methylation of hMLH1 and hMSH2 did not significantly influence survival. hMLH1 methylation was common and was significantly correlated with loss of hMLH1 protein expression. In contrast, hMSH2 methylation was infrequent. These findings suggest that the inactivation of MMR gene expression probably via hypermethylation may lead to inactivation of their functions which finally leads to tumor aggressiveness and the immunostaining of hMLH1 protein can be used as a prognostic factor for determining the grade of the tumor.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India.
authors: Pooja
authors: P
authors: Malhotra
authors: Mumtaz
authors: M
authors: Anwar
authors: Rakesh
authors: R
authors: Kochhar
authors: Shabeer
authors: S
authors: Ahmad
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Vaiphei
authors: Safrun
authors: S
authors: Mahmood
mesh_terms: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D048868:Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; C501486:MLH1 protein, human; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; C497172:MSH2 protein, human; D000070957:MutL Protein Homolog 1; D051718:MutS Homolog 2 Protein