Immunohistochemistry of DNA mismatch repair enzyme MSH2 is not correlated with prognostic data from endometrial carcinomas.

BACKGROUND The human Mut-S-homolog-2 (MSH2) is part of the DNA mismatch repair system (MMR). Mutations in genes of the MMR are a predisposition to hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). In women, MMR gene mutations may lead to primary endometrial cancer (EC). The important function of the MMR for the integrity of the DNA during replication makes it probable that the MMR might also be involved in the development and the course of sporadic carcinomas. Insufficient MMR activity or expression levels could be prognostic markers of the disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS Immunohistochemical analysis of MSH2 was performed in 86 tumor samples from patients with EC. RESULTS Compared to known tumor markers, namely estrogen and progesterone receptors, histopathological grading, TNM stage and FIGO classification, no significant correlation between MSH2 immunoreactivity and EC was found. CONCLUSION MSH2 immunohistochemical analysis is not of prognostic value for endometrial carcinoma.