MLH1-rheMac hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome in rhesus macaques

Significance The discovery of MLH1 -rheMac hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome in rhesus macaques ( MLH1 -rheMac HNPCC), which is an orthologue of Lynch syndrome in humans, is highly significant in the field of oncology. The hereditary nature of this disease should allow for planned cross-breeding of rhesus macaques to assess the effects of homozygous versus heterozygous MLH1 gene mutations, as well as other comutations and environmental factors that may affect the development of colon cancers. Also, the MLH1 -rheMac HNPCC syndrome in rhesus macaques can serve as an important model for development of novel approaches to diagnosis and therapy of Lynch syndrome in human patients.