Mismatch repair gene mutations lead to lynch syndrome colorectal cancer in rhesus macaques

Beth K. Dray, Muthuswamy Raveendran, R. Alan Harris, Fernando Benavides, Stanton B. Gray, Carlos J. Perez, Mark J. McArthur, Lawrence E. Williams, Wallace B. Baze, Harsha Doddapaneni, Donna M. Muzny, Christian R. Abee, Jeffrey Rogers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Colorectal cancer accounts for a substantial number of deaths each year worldwide. Lynch Syndrome is a genetic form of colorectal cancer (CRC) caused by inherited mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes. Although researchers have developed mouse models of Lynch Syndrome through targeted mutagenesis of MMR genes, the tumors that result differ in important ways from those in Lynch Syndrome patients. We identified 60 cases of CRC in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) at our facility since 2001. The tumors occur at the ileocecal junction, cecum and proximal colon and display clinicopathologic features similar to human Lynch Syndrome. We conducted immunohistochemical analysis of CRC tumors from several rhesus macaques, finding they frequently lack expression of MLH1 and PMS2 proteins, both critical MMR proteins involved in Lynch Syndrome. We also found that most macaque cases we tested exhibit microsatellite instability, a defining feature of Lynch Syndrome. Whole genome sequencing of rhesus macaque CRC cases identified mutations in MLH1 and/or MSH6 that are predicted to disrupt protein function. We conclude that this population of rhesus macaques constitutes a spontaneous model of Lynch Syndrome, matching the human disease in several significant characteristics, including genetic risk factors that parallel human Lynch Syndrome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)142-152
Number of pages11
JournalGenes and Cancer
Volume9
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2018

Keywords

  • Colorectal cancer
  • Lynch syndrome
  • MLH1
  • MSH6
  • Rhesus macaque

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Cancer Research

MD Anderson CCSG core facilities

  • Advanced Technology Genomics Core

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