Molecular genetics of colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the end result of an accumulation of destabilizing mutations and other genetic events that occur in colonocyte nuclei over many years. While each colorectal cancer is genetically unique, there are at least three distinct mechanisms by which the process occurs. The commonest is chromosomal instability, producing microsatellite stable, aneuploidy cancers. The second is DNA promoter methylation, that underlies CpG island methylation phenotype cancers, either microsatellite stable or unstable, and the third is loss of DNA mismatch repair, causing microsatellite unstable, diploid cancers.

Source: Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery - April 24, 2016 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: James Church Source Type: research