A novel germline frameshift mutation in the MLH1 gene in a patient with Lynch syndrome

Abstract

Lynch syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder, characterized by a predisposition to various cancers, mainly colorectal cancer (CRC). LS is caused by germline mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes i.e. mutL homolog 1 (MLH1), mutS homolog 2 (MSH2), mutS homolog 6 (MSH6), and post-meiotic segregation increased 2 (PMS2). In this study, we report a novel germline frameshift mutation in the MLH1 gene [NM_000249: exon1: c.99dup p.(Glu34ArgfsTer4)] in a 34-year-old male patient with LS. This MLH1 alteration has never been reported in any database or any publications. The frameshift mutation in MLH1 gene [NM_000249: exon1: c.99dup p.(Glu34ArgfsTer4)] was confirmed by Sanger sequencing conducted on peripheral blood of the proband. Meanwhile, Sanger sequencing results revealed the proband's uncle was the carrier. As multiple downstream germline frameshift mutations of this variation are pathogenic, such as MLH1 M35fs, N38fs, and S44fs, it is predicted that MLH1 p.(Glu34ArgfsTer4) might be also pathogenic. Meanwhile, this MLH1 mutation p.(Glu34ArgfsTer4) is predicted to be disease-causing by the MutationTaster software, as the duplication c.99dupA introduced a premature stop codon early in the translation, resulting in a non-functional protein. This study may contribute to the mutational spectrum of MLH1 leading to LS.