DNA repair gene status in oesophageal cancer

DNA repair genes and microsatellite instability (MSI) are relatively recently described molecular events that have been associated particularly with colorectal cancers in the setting of hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer or the Lynch syndromes. Several other gastrointestinal (and other) malignancies have been analysed for abnormalities in DNA repair genes and MSI. Dietary and environmental factors have been implicated strongly in the aetiology of oesophageal cancer. However, the effect of this on the genetic profile, especially the DNA repair system and resultant MSI, is largely unknown. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief background of the dietary and environmental factors in oesophageal carcinogenesis and to discuss the role of the repair genes and MSI in the molecular pathogenesis of this malignancy. Several studies indicate that MSI (range, 3-40%) and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) (range, 3-64%) in the DNA repair genes are uncommon in carcinogenesis of the oesophagus. Most data are at the lower end of the ranges and this, together with the lack of uniform criteria for the assessment of MSI, accounts for the higher figures obtained in some studies. The rates of detection of MSI do not approach that of other gastrointestinal malignancies, such as gastric (up to 23%) and colorectal (up to 31%) carcinomas.