To clarify the genetic background of gastric cancer, we collected 28 f
amilial gastric cancers (FGCs) with reference to the Amsterdam criteri
a in hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) and investigat
ed the frequency of replication error (RER) at sig microsatellite loci
and frameshift mutations in its related genes in these tumors. RER wa
s detected in seven (25%) of the 28 gastric cancers. Five (18%) cases
showed RER at more than two loci. The apparent increased incidence of
RER in FGC was not detected compared with that reported in sporadic ga
stric cancers previously. Among four cases with RER at more than three
loci, frameshift mutations in the (A)(8) track of the hMSH3 gene were
detected in all the four cases and mutations in the (A)ro track of th
e transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor (TGF-beta RII) gene
were detected in the three of them. Histologically, three of the four
cases were of the intestinal type, and the other one was the diffuse
type, No mutation was detected in the (C)(8) and (GT)(3) tracks of the
hMSH6 and TGF-beta RII genes respectively. These results indicate tha
t the acquisition of the RER phenotype equally influences the gastric
carcinogenesis of both sporadic and familial cases, and that the major
ity of FGC is pathogenetically distinct from HNPCC.