Eight novel germline MLH1 and MSH2 mutations in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer families from Spain.

Germline mutations in the MLH1 and MSH2 genes, account for the majority of HNPCC families. We have screened such families from Spain by using DGGE analysis and subsequent direct sequencing techniques. In eight families we identified six novel MLH1 and two novel MSH2 mutations comprising one frame shift mutation (c.1420 del C), two missense mutations (L622H and R687W), two splice site mutations (c.1990-1 G>A and c.453+2 T>C and one nonsense mutation (K329X) in the MLH1 gene as well as two frame shift mutations (c.1979-1980 del AT and c.1704-1705 del AG) in the MSH2 gene. Our analysis contributes to the further characterization of the mutational spectrum of MLH1 and MSH2 genes in HNPCC families. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.