title: What we could do now: molecular pathology of colorectal cancer.
abstract: The contribution of molecular genetics to colorectal cancer has been largely restricted to relatively rare inherited tumours and to the detection of germ line mutations predisposing to these cancers. However, much is now known about the somatic events leading to colorectal cancer in general. Several studies have examined the relation between genetic features and prognosis. The purpose of this article is to review these studies and summarise the current state of this subject. Although many of the published studies are small and inconclusive, it is clear that several different pathways exist for the development of this cancer, and some molecular characteristics seem to correlate with clinicopathological features. At present, studies are confined to evaluating a small number of molecular markers; however, with the advent of methods for the rapid genetic profiling of large numbers of colorectal cancers, it will be possible to evaluate fully the clinical usefulness of a range of colorectal cancer genotypes.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, UK. r.houlston@icr.ac.uk
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Houlston
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D000236:Adenoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D020137:Base Pair Mismatch / Q000235:genetics; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17; D002887:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D017353:Gene Deletion; D017491:Genes, APC; D016163:Genes, DCC; D016158:Genes, p53; D011905:Genes, ras; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D009154:Mutation; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009124:Muscle Proteins; C058992:Tagln protein, mouse