The molecular biology of colorectal carcinoma and its implications: a review

Colorectal carcinoma is one of the most common cancers encountered in the western world and increasingly in the developing world as well. This conditions results in considerable morbidity and mortality. As a result of the impact colorectal carcinoma has on society, a considerable amount of research has gone into elucidating the molecular mechanisms of this disease. This has led to a proliferation in the understanding of the molecular aetiology of the disease. Such research has revealed the underlying mechanisms to be complex and diverse, with no single molecular cause for the development of colorectal cancer. In this review, we look at the basic underlying molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer and also briefly explore its implications with regards to clinical applications. We look at how this information relates to the prognosis and also its potential use in screening. A medline and pubmed search was conducted using the keywords colorectal carcinoma, molecular biology of colorectal carcinoma, mutations, and the relevant articles were used for this review. Bibliographies of these articles were also searched for relevant articles. There is considerable information available on the pathogenesis of colorectal carcinoma and such knowledge is beginning to impact on clinical practice.