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©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2007; 13(28): 3784-3791
Published online Jul 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i28.3784
Published online Jul 28, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i28.3784
Colorectal carcinogenesis: Road maps to cancer
Daniel L Worthley, Vicki L Whitehall, Kevin J Spring, Barbara A Leggett, Conjoint Gastroenterology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the Bancroft Centre, rm H07, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by a Gastroenterological Society of Australia post-graduate scholarship
Correspondence to: Dr. Daniel L Worthley, Conjoint Gastroenterology Laboratory, The Queensland Institute of Medical Research, the Bancroft Centre, rm H07, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, QLD 4029, Australia. daniel.worthley@qimr.edu.au
Telephone: +61-7-33620491 Fax: +61-7-33620108
Received: May 7, 2007
Revised: May 20, 2007
Accepted: May 28, 2007
Published online: July 28, 2007
Revised: May 20, 2007
Accepted: May 28, 2007
Published online: July 28, 2007
Abstract
This review explores the chief genetic and epigenetic events that promote pathological progression in colorectal carcinogenesis. This article discusses the molecular and pathological basis for classifying colorectal neoplasia into suppressor, mutator and methylator pathways. These differing mechanisms of genomic instability are associated with specific cancer characteristics, and may provide the opportunity for more effective prevention and surveillance strategies in the future. This is the first review in a series of five topics outlining important and developing aspects of colorectal cancer.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; Neoplastic processes; Adenoma-carcinoma sequence; Serrated adenoma; Adenomas; Hyperplastic polyps, Microsatellite instability; CpG Island methylator phenotype