Serrated route to colorectal cancer: back street or super highway?

J Pathol. 2001 Mar;193(3):283-5. doi: 10.1002/1096-9896(200103)193:3<283::AID-PATH799>3.0.CO;2-9.

Abstract

Morphological and molecular studies are beginning to distinguish separate evolutionary pathways for colorectal cancer. The serrated pathway encompassing hyperplastic aberrant crypt foci, hyperplastic polyps, mixed polyps, and serrated adenoma is increasingly being linked with genetic alterations, including DNA methylation, DNA microsatellite instability, K-ras mutation, and loss of chromosome 1p. The importance of the serrated pathway has been underestimated in terms of its frequency and potential for rapid progression.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Editorial

MeSH terms

  • Colorectal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / pathology
  • DNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Microsatellite Repeats
  • Precancerous Conditions / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Neoplasm