Your biomarker profile can help you and your doctor personalise your treatment.
Biomarkers for colorectal cancer are used for diagnosis, progression, prognosis, and for treatment planning.
MSI-H and MSS biomarkers indicate the stability of the DNA in a tumour.
Colorectal cancer tumours are often referred to as having an “MSI status,” meaning they are described as either MSI (microsatellite instable) or MSS (microsatellite stable). They cannot be both.
What does an abnormal MSI-H level mean?
Approximately 15% of colorectal tumours are MSI-H and dMMR.
In most of these cases, the mutation was caused by a non-hereditary(somatic) gene abnormality in one of the MMR genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, or PMS2) in a cancer cell.
In 3-5% of colorectal patients, dMMR and MSI-H are caused by Lynch syndrome. In these patients, a hereditary mutation (germline mutation) in one of the four main MMR genes is passed from one generation to another. Individuals with Lynch syndrome are at higher risk of developing colorectal, endometrial (uterine), gastric, ovarian, and other cancers.
Lynch Syndrome Ireland 