Nonrepair functions of DNA mismatch repair proteins: new avenues for precision oncology.

DNA damage repair (DDR) proteins are well recognized as guardians of the genome that are frequently lost during malignant transformation of normal cells across cancer types. To date, their tumor suppressor functions have been generally regarded as a consequence of their roles in maintaining genomic stability: more genomic instability increases the risk of oncogenic transformation events. However, recent discoveries centering around DNA mismatch repair (MMR) proteins suggest a broader impact of the loss of DDR proteins on cellular processes beyond genomic instability.