title: Early-onset colorectal cancer: a separate subset of colorectal cancer.
abstract: Colorectal cancer (CRC) has a great impact on the world population. With increasing frequency, CRC is described according to the presenting phenotype, based on its molecular characteristics. Classification of CRC tumors according to their genetic and/or epigenetic alterations is not only important for establishing the molecular bases of the disease, but also for predicting patient outcomes and developing more individualized treatments. Early-onset CRC is a heterogeneous disease, with a strong familial component, although the disease is sporadic in an important proportion of cases. Different molecular alterations appear to contribute to the apparent heterogeneity of the early-onset population and subgroups can be distinguished with distinct histopathologic and familial characteristics. Moreover, compared with late-onset CRC, there are characteristics that suggest that early-onset CRC may have a different molecular basis. The purpose of this review was to analyze the current state of knowledge about early-onset CRC with respect to clinicopathologic, familial and molecular features. Together, these features make it increasingly clear that this subset of CRC may be a separate disease, although it has much in common with late-onset CRC.
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: Irene Osorio
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Silla
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de la Cruz Vigo
authors.affiliation: Irene Osorio Silla, Felipe de la Cruz Vigo, José Perea, Department of Surgery, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Madrid 28041, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perea
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010375:Pedigree; D010641:Phenotype; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Chromosomal instability; CpG island methylator phenotype; Early-onset colorectal cancer; Lynch syndrome; Microsatellite instability