Abstract
DNA mismatch repair (MMR) protein abnormalities among 42 Sudanese colorectal cancer (CRC) patients were assessed.
Sections were stained by immunohistochemical method to assess the abnormalities of MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2.
Of the 42 included cases, 34 (80.95%) were MMR protein positive for all MMR proteins under assessment, 3 (7.14%) MSH2 inadequate, and 1 (2.38%) MSH6 inadequate. Abnormal MMR protein expression was found in 4 (9.5%) cases. Of these, 2 (50%) were MSH2 and MSH6 negative and 2 (50%) were MLH1 and PMS2 negative. Regarding microsatellite instability (MSI) results, the three cases that were MSH2 inadequate and positive for the rest by immunohistochemistry (IHC) showed stable results with both BAT 25 and 26. The case that was MSH6 inadequate showed stable results with both BAT 25 and 26. The 2 cases with MSH2- and MSH6-negative results were unstable with both BAT 25 and 26. Of the two cases that were MLH1 and PMS2 negative, one case showed non-evaluable results with both BAT 25 and 26 while the other case was unstable with BAT 26 and not evaluable with BAT 25.
The percentage of MMR protein-negative cases in Sudanese CRC patients appears to be relatively low compared to what is generally reported in certain studies in different countries. Furthermore, MLH1 and PMS2 and MSH2 and MSH6 abnormal expression detected by IHC seems to be the most common form of MMR protein abnormalities in Sudanese CRC patients. Concerning the results of IHC, MLH1 and MSH2 seem to be the most inactivated MMR genes in Sudanese CRC patients.