[Pathology: on the way to molecular analysis].

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Pathology
• Oncology
• Molecular Biology

Context:

• Pathology traditionally relies on morphological techniques for diagnosing digestive diseases, particularly cancers.
• Advancements in endoscopy, imaging, and high-throughput biological techniques are transforming gastrointestinal disease diagnosis.
• Molecular pathology, including immunohistochemistry, is increasingly integrated into biopathology processes.

Purpose:

• To highlight the evolving role of pathology in digestive diseases, moving from classical morphology to integrated molecular approaches.
• To illustrate how molecular pathology aids in understanding pathophysiological research, such as colorectal carcinogenesis.
• To examine the integration of morphological and non-morphological techniques for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Summary:

• Classical morphological pathology remains crucial but is now complemented by molecular pathology.
• Molecular pathology contributes to understanding cancer pathways (e.g., serrated pathway in colorectal cancer) and developing targeted therapies (e.g., for gastrointestinal stromal tumors).
• Integrating diverse techniques is essential for identifying predictive factors for treatment response, as seen with anti-EGFR therapies in colorectal cancer.

Impact:

• Enhanced understanding of digestive cancer pathophysiology through integrated molecular and morphological data.
• Improved diagnostic accuracy and personalized treatment strategies for gastrointestinal diseases.
• Facilitates the identification of predictive biomarkers for targeted therapies, optimizing patient outcomes.