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In Lynch syndrome adenomas, loss of mismatch repair proteins is related to an enhanced lymphocytic response
Author(s) -
Meijer Tineke W H,
Hoogerbrugge Nicoline,
Nagengast Fokko M,
Ligtenberg Marjolein J L,
Van Krieken J Han J M
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
histopathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.626
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1365-2559
pISSN - 0309-0167
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2009.03403.x
Subject(s) - dna mismatch repair , lynch syndrome , hyperplastic polyp , lymphocytic infiltration , adenoma , tumor infiltrating lymphocytes , infiltration (hvac) , pathology , colorectal cancer , lymphocyte , dna repair , hyperplasia , biology , medicine , cancer research , cancer , gene , colonoscopy , immunotherapy , genetics , physics , thermodynamics
Aims: Lynch syndrome‐associated tumours are characterized by the presence of an increased number of tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. This enhanced lymphocytic response may be elicited by genetically altered proteins that may arise as a result of a defective DNA mismatch repair system. The aim was to investigate this hypothesis by correlating loss of mismatch repair proteins and infiltration of lymphocytes in Lynch syndrome‐associated adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. Methods and results: Mismatch repair protein expression and the number of tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes were assessed in Lynch syndrome (41 adenomas and nine hyperplastic polyps) and in familial colorectal cancer (nine adenomas and one hyperplastic polyp). Nineteen sporadic adenomas were included as a control group. Twenty of 32 (63%) adenomas with loss of mismatch repair protein expression showed an increase in tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. Eight adenomas (8/32; 25%) displayed many tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes, whereas most adenomas (12/32; 38%) showed a minor increase. In adenomas with mismatch repair protein expression, both sporadic and Lynch syndrome associated, not one showed an increased number of tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. Hyperplastic polyps in Lynch syndrome patients showed neither loss of mismatch repair expression nor an increase in tumour‐infiltrating lymphocytes. Conclusions: There is a correlation between the loss of mismatch repair proteins and the infiltration of lymphocytes in Lynch syndrome‐associated adenomas.