title: Origins and morphogenesis of colorectal neoplasms.
abstract: Gastrointestinal stem cells are considered pivotal in colonic carcinogenesis. There is evidence to suggest that early microadenomas in the colon are polyclonal in origin. Adenomas, once initiated, enlarge by the process of crypt fission. It is also the main mechanism by which neoplastic clones spread through the colorectal epithelium. Both concepts are important for our understanding of the early events in colonic carcinogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Imperial Cancer Research Fund, Department of Histopathology, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology