Challenges in the identification of MSH6-associated colorectal cancer: rectal location, less typical histology, and a subset with retained mismatch repair function

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Identification of Lynch syndrome tumors is challenging. This relates particularly to MSH6-associated cases, which show reduced penetrance of colorectal cancer and a higher age at diagnosis. We recorded the clinical and morphologic features of 52 MSH6-associated colorectal cancers in comparison with MLH1/MSH2-mutant tumors and sporadic mismatch repair-deficient cancers. In the MSH6 subset, we confirmed a higher age (median, 56 y) at diagnosis and found a significantly larger proportion (25%) of rectal cancers. Presence of dirty necrosis was the sole histologic component that significantly differed between MSH6 and MLH1/MSH2 tumors. Compared with the sporadic mismatch repair-defective cohort, MSH6 cases had a lower prevalence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and Crohn-like reactions. Mismatch repair defects were identified in 92% of MSH6 tumors, with high concordance between microsatellite instability and loss of immunohistochemical MSH6 expression. The remaining 8% showed a mismatch repair-stable phenotype, which suggests that analysis of additional tumors might be considered in families suspected of Lynch syndrome.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Surgical Pathology
Volume35
Issue number9
Pages (from-to)1391-9
Number of pages9
ISSN0147-5185
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sep 2011

ID: 40143973