[Clonal chromosomal anomalies in colorectal tumors]

Colorectal tumors constitute a reason of frequent consultation in gastroenterology services in the world. They constitute the second cause of mortality in the world and the fourth cause of mortality for cancer in Venezuela. It usually begins as a polyp that becomes malignant due to a mutation at the level of the genetic code that controls the growth and the repair of cells. The present work reports the clonal chromosomal abnormalities observed in 15 samples from benign tumors as well as malignant colorectal tumors and to relate these findings. There were clonal chromosomal anomalies in 11/15 (73.33%), 4 corresponded to carcinomas and 7 to adenomatous polyps. In 7/11 (63.6%) there were anomalies of the monosomy type in the chromosomes 8 and 22, other anomalies corresponded to trisomy of the chromosomes 11 and 18, and a single case with a structural anomaly that corresponded to a del(17p). The chromosomal anomalies in adenomatous polyposis have been related with the beginning of malignant disease and, in the case of carcinomas, it has been related with progression of the illness toward metastasis and death. The use of this tool could be used as a prognostic factor for patients with non familial adenomatous polyposis.