Genetic and Epigenetic Changes in Colorectal Cancers
Author Information
Author(s): Watanabe T, Kanazawa T, Kazama Y, Tanaka J, Tanaka T, Tada T, Nagawa H
Primary Institution: University of Tokyo Hospital
Hypothesis
Epigenetic changes play an important role in the development of multiple primary cancers in the general population.
Conclusion
The study shows that multiple colorectal cancers do not develop through the same pathway as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
Supporting Evidence
- 25% of patients demonstrated high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) in both cancers.
- 41% demonstrated MSI-H in one cancer.
- 34% failed to demonstrate any MSI-H.
- 54% of all tumors showed methylation of hMLH1.
- 78% of MSI-H tumors showed methylation of hMLH1.
- 70% of tumors in multiple colorectal cancers showed a high frequency of CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP).
Takeaway
This study found that different tumors in the same person can have different genetic changes, which is different from how some inherited cancers work.
Methodology
The study examined the microsatellite instability (MSI) status in both cancers and adenomas from patients with multiple colorectal cancers.
Limitations
The study only included a small number of patients.
Participant Demographics
Patients with multiple colorectal cancers.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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