Expression of DNA mismatch repair gene MSH2 in cytological material from lung cancer patients

Abstract

Mismatch repair genes encode for proteins responsible for the correction of bases incorrectly paired in the DNA. Loss of DNA mismatch repair activity has been associated with various cancers including tumors of the lung. In the present study, we have analyzed by immunocytochemistry the expression of MSH2 DNA repair gene in cytological material obtained by fine needle aspiration from a panel of 42 primary lung cancer patients. Specimens included 13 adenocarcinomas, 11 small cell carcinomas and 18 squamous cell carcinomas. Loss of expression or low expression was detected in 6 out of 13 (46%) adenocarcinomas and in 7 out of 18 (39%) of squamous cell carcinomas, although all 11 small cell carcinomas expressed MSH2. Our results suggest that loss of MSH2 expression is frequent in nonsmall cell carcinomas of the lung (P < 0.01, chi2 test). Evaluation of MSH2 expression can be applied for the screening of cytological material from fine needle aspirations from the lung.

Gene expression profiling for molecular distinction and characterization of laser captured primary lung cancers

“…We have further shown that genes involved in mismatch repair, such as mutS homolog 2 or 6, were upregulated in SCLCs, which is in line with other reports showing that these gene transcripts and proteins are present [ 50 , 51 ], in contrast to NSCLCs, where high resolution deletion mapping reveals frequent allelic losses at the DNA mismatch repair loci mutS homolog 3 [ 52 ]. Similar to the latter report, we have observed a downregulation of mutS homolog 3 in ACs.…”

Role of DNA mismatch repair genes in lung and head and neck cancer (Review)

“…Kanellis et al evaluated the protein expression levels of MMR genes in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) specimens derived from various types of lung cancer. Their study demonstrated that that NSCLCs, and particularly squamous cell carcinomas, exhibited reduced MSH2 protein levels at relatively high rates compared to small cell carcinomas (97).…”

Phenotypic mismatch repair hMSH2 and hMLH1 gene expression profiles in primary non-small cell lung carcinomas

“…The potential role of MMR genes in the pathogenesis of lung cancer is less well documented [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. Epigenetic loss of DNA mismatch gene expression in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLCs) has been observed at the protein [28][29][30][31] and transcriptional [32] levels.…”