Impact of BRAF, MLH1 on the incidence of microsatellite instability high colorectal cancer in populations based study.

We have identified an alternative pathway of tumorigenesis in sporadic colon cancer, involving microsatellite instability due to mismatched repair methylation, which may be driven by mutations in the BRAF gene (V600E). Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common cancer in the world, and African Americans show a higher incidence than other populations in the United States. We analyzed sporadic CRCs in Omani (of African origin, N = 61), Iranian (of Caucasian origin, N = 53) and African American (N = 95) patients for microsatellite instability, expression status of mismatched repair genes (hMLH1, hMSH2) and presence of the BRAF (V600E) mutation.

Sporadic colon cancer: mismatch repair immunohistochemistry and microsatellite instability in Omani subjects.

Background: Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the most common gastrointestinal malignancy in the world, and there are suggestions of a particularly high incidence in the Middle East, including those of African origin. Defects in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) systems are involved in the carcinogenesis of both sporadic and inherited human cancers. We assessed colonic cancers in an attempt to identify tumors with DNA MMR deficiency and microsatellite instability (MSI).