PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lewis, Sally
AU  - Telgenhoff, Dale
AU  - Dubansky, Brooke
TI  - Molecular Characterization of Colorectal Cancers
AID  - 10.29074/ascls.2022003208
DP  - 2024 Oct 15
TA  - American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science
4099  - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/early/2024/10/16/ascls.2022003208.short
4100  - http://hwmaint.clsjournal.ascls.org/content/early/2024/10/16/ascls.2022003208.full
AB  - Characterization of the molecular mutations in colorectal cancers has made great progress since the initial report by Fearon and Vogelstein describing a series of histologic changes that correlate to a series of mutations. Since 1990, numerous mutational pathways have been associated with 1 or more actionable targets leading to more precise treatments in the development of colorectal cancers, including inherited and sporadic ones. The accumulation of mutations leads to the acquisition of cancer-promoting qualities such as increased cellular proliferation, immune evasion, and resistance to apoptosis. Mutations of tumor suppressor and protooncogenes such as KRAS and BRAF have an important role in the prognosis and therapeutic selection of treatment. Broadening the use of multigene next-generation sequencing panels in patients with colorectal cancer may allow earlier identification of more actionable targets in patients, providing more precise treatments.