Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.

Polymerases ε and δ are the main enzymes that replicate eukaryotic DNA. Accurate replication occurs through Watson-Crick base pairing and also through the action of the polymerases' exonuclease (proofreading) domains. We have recently shown that germline exonuclease domain mutations (EDMs) of P...

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Main Authors: Briggs, S, Tomlinson, I
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2013
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author Briggs, S
Tomlinson, I
author_facet Briggs, S
Tomlinson, I
author_sort Briggs, S
collection OXFORD
description Polymerases ε and δ are the main enzymes that replicate eukaryotic DNA. Accurate replication occurs through Watson-Crick base pairing and also through the action of the polymerases' exonuclease (proofreading) domains. We have recently shown that germline exonuclease domain mutations (EDMs) of POLE and POLD1 confer a high risk of multiple colorectal adenomas and carcinoma (CRC). POLD1 mutations also predispose to endometrial cancer (EC). These mutations are associated with high penetrance and dominant inheritance, although the phenotype can be variable. We have named the condition polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis (PPAP). Somatic POLE EDMs have also been found in sporadic CRCs and ECs, although very few somatic POLD1 EDMs have been detected. Both the germline and the somatic DNA polymerase EDMs cause an 'ultramutated', apparently microsatellite-stable, type of cancer, sometimes leading to over a million base substitutions per tumour. Here, we present the evidence for POLE and POLD1 as important contributors to the pathogenesis of CRC and EC, and highlight some of the key questions in this emerging field.
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spelling oxford-uuid:d13fbf7c-40f6-4de0-80c2-eca67c72a6ab2022-03-27T07:55:44ZGermline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d13fbf7c-40f6-4de0-80c2-eca67c72a6abEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2013Briggs, STomlinson, IPolymerases ε and δ are the main enzymes that replicate eukaryotic DNA. Accurate replication occurs through Watson-Crick base pairing and also through the action of the polymerases' exonuclease (proofreading) domains. We have recently shown that germline exonuclease domain mutations (EDMs) of POLE and POLD1 confer a high risk of multiple colorectal adenomas and carcinoma (CRC). POLD1 mutations also predispose to endometrial cancer (EC). These mutations are associated with high penetrance and dominant inheritance, although the phenotype can be variable. We have named the condition polymerase proofreading-associated polyposis (PPAP). Somatic POLE EDMs have also been found in sporadic CRCs and ECs, although very few somatic POLD1 EDMs have been detected. Both the germline and the somatic DNA polymerase EDMs cause an 'ultramutated', apparently microsatellite-stable, type of cancer, sometimes leading to over a million base substitutions per tumour. Here, we present the evidence for POLE and POLD1 as important contributors to the pathogenesis of CRC and EC, and highlight some of the key questions in this emerging field.
spellingShingle Briggs, S
Tomlinson, I
Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title_full Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title_fullStr Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title_full_unstemmed Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title_short Germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers.
title_sort germline and somatic polymerase ε and δ mutations define a new class of hypermutated colorectal and endometrial cancers
work_keys_str_mv AT briggss germlineandsomaticpolymeraseeanddmutationsdefineanewclassofhypermutatedcolorectalandendometrialcancers
AT tomlinsoni germlineandsomaticpolymeraseeanddmutationsdefineanewclassofhypermutatedcolorectalandendometrialcancers