Histomorphological and molecular genetic characterization of different intratumoral regions and matched metastatic lymph nodes of colorectal cancer with heterogenous mismatch repair protein expression

Purpose To better understand the clinicopathological characteristics and molecular alterations in different intratumoral components of colorectal cancer (CRC) with heterogeneity of mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression and microsatellite instability (MSI) status. Methods The histopathological features, MSI status, and other molecular alterations were analyzed in separately microdissected intratumoral regions and matched metastatic lymph nodes in four cases with intratumoral heterogenous MMR expression screened from 500 CRC patients, using PCR-based MSI testing, MLH1 promoter methylation, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results High microsatellite instability (MSI-H) was identified in MLH1/PMS2-deficient regions in Cases 1 to 3 and in MSH2/MSH6-deficient regions in Case 4, while microsatellite stability (MSS) was detected in all the intratumoral regions and metastatic lymph nodes with proficient MMR expression (pMMR). Intratumoral heterogeneity of MLH1 promoter methylation and/or other common driving gene mutations of CRC, such as KRAS and PIK3CA mutations, was identified in all four CRCs. Further, three cases (75%) showed heterogeneous histomorphological features in intratumoral components and metastatic lymph nodes (Cases 1, 2, and 4), and the corresponding metastatic lymph nodes showed moderate differentiation with MSS/pMMR (Cases 2 and 3). Conclusions Intratumoral heterogeneous MSI status is highly correlated with intratumoral histomorphological heterogeneity, which is also an important clue for the intratumoral heterogeneity of drive gene mutations in CRC. Thus, it is essential to detect MMR protein expression and other gene mutations in metastases before treatment, especially for CRCs with intratumoral heterogenous MMR protein expression or heterogenous histomorphological features.

Automated summary

The study aims to understand the clinicopathological characteristics and molecular alterations in different intratumoral components of colorectal cancer (CRC) with heterogeneity of mismatch repair (MMR) protein expression and microsatellite instability (MSI) status. Important clues for intratumoral heterogeneity of driver gene mutations in CRC were identified, emphasizing the importance of detecting MMR protein expression and other gene mutations in metastases before treatment.