MSH-6: extending the reliability of immunohistochemistry as a screening tool in Muir-Torre syndrome

Mod Pathol. 2008 Feb;21(2):159-64. doi: 10.1038/modpathol.3800997. Epub 2007 Dec 7.

Abstract

The subtype of Muir-Torre syndrome, allelic to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is typically associated with germline mutations in the mismatch repair proteins MSH-2 and/or MLH-1. More recently, mutation in an additional mismatch repair protein MSH-6 has been documented in a patient with Muir-Torre syndrome. Given this, the aim of the present study was to ascertain the frequency of the same in unselected sebaceous gland neoplasms. Overall, we found that 59% of sebaceous neoplasms exhibited a mutation in at least one mismatch repair protein gene -- a prevalence rate similar to that reported previously by others. Of interest, we found MSH-6 to be the mismatch repair protein most commonly lost 17/41 (41%), followed by MSH-2 14/41 (34%) and MLH-18/41 (20%) and the positive predictive value of each were as follows: MLH-1 88%, MSH-6 67% and MSH-2 55%. The frequency of a MSH-6 germline mutation in our cohort indicates that it is not a rare finding. Evidence indicating microsatellite stability in three of 17 patients with a clinical history indicative of Muir-Torre syndrome and a mutation in only MSH-6 suggests that the phenotype of a germline MSH-6 mutation differs from that of MLH-1 and MSH-2 mutations and further supports the use of immunohistochemistry as a screening tool in patients with Muir-Torre syndrome with an extended panel that includes MSH-6.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / genetics
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adenoma / genetics*
  • Adenoma / metabolism
  • Adenoma / pathology
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Base Pair Mismatch
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA Mismatch Repair
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Genetic Testing*
  • Germ-Line Mutation
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods*
  • Male
  • Microsatellite Repeats
  • Middle Aged
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / genetics
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / genetics*
  • Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / metabolism
  • Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / pathology
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
  • Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Sebaceous Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • G-T mismatch-binding protein
  • MLH1 protein, human
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • MSH2 protein, human
  • MutL Protein Homolog 1
  • MutS Homolog 2 Protein