- H01, H30, R01 -

LYNCH SYNDROME Lynch Syndrome is a hereditary disorder caused by a mutation in a mismatch repair gene in which affected individuals have a higher than normal chance of developing colorectal cancer endometrial cancer and various other types of aggressive cancers often at a young age also called hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer. HNPCC PROTECTING OUR FAMILIES AND OURSELVES Mutation The mutations of specific mismatch repair MMR genes including but not limited to MLH1 MSH2 MSH6 PMS2 and EPCAMTACSTD1 deletions are responsible for Lynch syndrome. These genes work in repairing mistakes made when DNA is copied in preparation for cell division. The defects in the genes disallow repair of DNA mistakes and as cells divide errors stack and uncontrollable cell growth may result in cancer.