[Colonic cancer: from molecular diagnosis to diagnostic and therapeutic procedure]

Studies of tumour cell genetic alterations have demonstrated the existence of two distinct groups of colorectal cancers. The first one is characterised by the existence of hyperploid tumour cells and frequent loss of heterozygosity. These colorectal cancers are the most common. The second one is characterised by the presence of microsatellite instability. Among the most frequent genetic alterations, the loss of heterozygosity on the short arm of chromosome 17 and the long arm of chromosome 18 seems to be indicators of a pejorative prognosis. In the same way the existence of a p53 mutation in tumour cells has been demonstrated as an independent prognostic factor in colorectal cancer. The indication of an adjuvant chemotherapy on the basis of such genetic alterations remains to be demonstrated by randomised trials.