sentences:  In the Table above, MLH1 deficiencies were noted in the field defects (histologically normal tissues) surrounding most of the cancers.If MLH1 is epigenetically reduced or silenced, it would not likely confer a selective advantage upon a stem cell.However, reduced or absent expression of MLH1 would cause increased rates of mutation, and one or more of the mutated genes may provide the cell with a selective advantage.