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Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Development and Maintenance of a Preclinical Patient Derived Tumor Xenograft Model for the Investigation of Novel Anti-Cancer Therapies
Published on: September 30, 2016
Oncogenic mutations of clinical significance in colorectal cancer
Vivienne Lea1, Stephanie Hui-Su Lim2, Cheok Soon Lee3
1Discipline of Pathology, School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW Australia; School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Liverpool Hospital Clinical School, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
Abstract:
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Three molecular carcinogenesis pathways have been identified in CRC: chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability (MSI), and CpG island methylator phenotype. Next-generation sequencing is increasingly used in standard clinical practice to identify patients with potentially actionable mutations. Tumour biomarker expression is driving therapeutic decision-making in the treatment of metastatic CRC, with implications for both initial systemic therapy as well as subsequent treatments. Pathologists are playing an increasing role in the identification of mutations with prognostic and predictive value. Currently, testing for deficient mismatch repair/MSI, extended RAS testing, and BRAF status is recommended in all patients at the time of metastatic CRC diagnosis. This review discusses the molecular pathology of CRC including emerging potential therapeutic targets based on molecular testing.
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