iii Imagine a single cell in your body, turning against you, becoming malignant, and eventually causing a life-threatening disease. Cancer is both fascinating and horrifying. For decades, scientists have battled to unravel the underlying mechanisms. Although significant progress has been made, the heart of the mystery remains unsolved.

Urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter may develop sporadically or as a manifestation of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer. The majority of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer is caused by mutation of the human DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes and is detected by associated microsatellite instability (MSI). Seventy-three unselected urothelial carcinomas of the ureter an...

Recent identification of gene mutations responsible for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) has made possible the presymptomatic diagnosis of at-risk family members. If DNA testing shows that a family member is a gene carrier, that individual's lifetime cancer risk is approximately 90%. If the test is negative, the family member's cancer risk drops to that of the general populatio...

PURPOSE Hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer is caused by mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, predominantly MLH1 and MSH2. Classic MLH1 mutations cause an approximately 20-fold increase in colorectal cancer susceptibility. Recently, we identified a hypomorphic allele, MLH1 D132H , which impairs, but does not completely eliminate the function of MLH1 in tumor suppression. MLH1 D132H confers ...

Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominant cancer susceptibility syndrome associated with inherited defects in the DNA mismatch repair system. HNPCC family members are at high risk for developing colorectal, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Studies of HNPCC families have helped define the important role that mismatch repair genes play in the molecular pathogenes...

BACKGROUND Preventive programs for individuals who have high lifetime risks of colorectal cancer may reduce disease morbidity and mortality. Thus, it is important to identify the factors that are associated with hereditary colorectal cancer and to monitor the effects of tailored surveillance. In particular, patients with Lynch syndrome, hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), have an...