Recent advances in the biology of colorectal cancer

The identification of the precise molecular defects responsible for the common forms of inherited colorectal cancer has significantly advanced our understanding of both inherited and sporadic disease. These advances coupled with a rapid accumulation of information on the molecular genotype and biological phenotype of colorectal cancer have identified potential markers that may prove to be not only of prognostic value but also important as screening tools and therapeutic targets. These molecular and biological features include replication errors, mutations of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and expression of tumor specific antigens and cytokeratins. This review highlights important recent advances that further our understanding of the biology and genetics of colorectal cancer.