Short synthetic single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ssODNs) can be used to introduce subtle modifications into the genome of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We have previously shown that effective application of ssODN-mediated gene targeting in ESC requires (transient) suppression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR). However, whereas transient down-regulation of the mismatch recognition prot...

Effective chemotherapy against esophageal carcinoma is considered achievable with a combination of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin (CDDP). However, chemo-therapy remains ineffective in certain patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the factors which affect sensitivity to 5-FU and CDDP. The effects of factors known to influence sensitivity to 5-FU and CDDP, namely transporters, DNA r...

To analyze relevant factors and their effects on neoplastic progression in cervical carcinoma, a panel of genetic markers was studied. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections were obtained from 37 patients with carcinoma of the uterine cervix, 14 noninvasive squamous cell carcinomas (NISCCs), and 23 invasive squamous cell carcinomas (ISCCs). Immunoreactivity of Msh2, Mlh1, Fhit, p53, Bcl-2, and Bax p...

PURPOSE To evaluate the prognostic significance of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) status in a large series of stage II and III colorectal cancer patients. The relationship among MMR status, adjuvant chemotherapy, and clinical outcome was also investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 718 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma (393 stage II and 325 stage III) who underwent curative sur...

BACKGROUND To evaluate the prognostic value of E-cadherin, CD44, and MSH2 expression for colorectal cancer (CRC) and construct nomograms that can predict prognosis. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the expression of E-cadherin, CD44, and MSH2 in 223 paraffin-embedded stage II and III CRC specimens using immunohistochemistry in the training cohort. Their prognostic values were assessed usin...

The most important indicator of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk is the presence of family history of the disease. Inherited genetic changes, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms, in key candidate genes may contribute to CRC risk. We investigated whether promoter polymorphisms in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes MSH2 and MSH6 are associated with the risk of CRC. We genotyped 929 CRC patients and ...

Colorectal cancers with DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene mutations characteristically display a high rate of replication errors in simple repetitive sequences detectable as microsatellite instability (MSI). Most are the result of somatic MMR dysfunction; however, a subset are caused by germline mutations. The availability of commercial antibodies for MSH2 and MLH1 [corrected] offers an alternativ...

BACKGROUND Infertility affects approximately 20% of couples in Europe and in 50% of cases the problem lies with the male partner. The impact of damaged DNA originating in the male germ line on infertility is poorly understood but may increase miscarriage. Mouse models allow us to investigate how deficiencies in DNA repair/damage response pathways impact on formation and function of male germ ce...

Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) is a dominantly inherited disorder characterized by germline defects in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes and the development of a variety of cancers, predominantly colorectal and endometrial. We present a 44-year-old woman who was shown to carry the truncating MSH2 gene mutation that had previously been identified in her family. Recently, she had been diagnosed with an und...