DNA mismatch repair and colorectal cancer

• Published in: The Journal of pathology Vol. 185; no. 2; pp. 123 - 129
• Main Authors: Toft, Neil J., Arends, Mark J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.06.1998; Wiley
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Colorectal Neoplasms - genetics; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis - genetics; DNA mismatch repair; DNA Repair; DNA Replication; DNA-Binding Proteins; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; Humans; Medical sciences; Mice; microsatellite instability; Microsatellite Repeats; Mutation; mutator phenotype; MutS Homolog 2 Protein; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; replication error; sporadic colon cancer; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Tumors; Human; Rectal disease; Carcinoma; Sporadic; Chromosome pairing; Error; Malignant tumor; Review; Carcinogenesis; Colonic disease; Microsatellite DNA; Rectum; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Familial cancer; Instability; Replication; Colon; Molecular biology; Repair
• ISSN: 0022-3417; 1096-9896
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9896(199806)185:2<123::AID-PATH62>3.0.CO;2-P

Colorectal cancer is the second commonest malignancy in the western world, accounting for 20 000 deaths in the U.K. per year. Over the last 10 years, great strides have been made in our understanding of the molecular controls governing the transition from normal mucosa, through adenoma, and finally to carcinoma. This review focuses on the recently discovered DNA mismatch repair pathway and its role in the development of both sporadic and an inherited form of colorectal cancer, namely hereditary non‐polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).1,2 © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.