| Theme |
Small colorectal cancer with high malignant potential |
| Title |
Molecular biological characteristics of small advanced colorectal cancer |
| Author |
Hisae Iinuma |
Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Soichiro Ishihara |
Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Toshiaki Watanabe |
Department of Surgical Oncology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo |
| [ Summary ] |
As result of the widespread of use of endoscopy and related technological developments increasing numbers of small advanced colorectal cancers (CRC) not exceeding 2 cm in diameter have been detected. It has been reported that K-ras gene mutations may not be associated with the oncogenic pathway of small advanced CRCs. There is a widely held view that small CRCs may originate from non-polypoid early cancers, or so-called "de novo cancers". Most of these small advanced CRCs show a non-polypoid growth type (NPG). These small cancers with NPG patterns have a tendency to be more aggressive and have a poorer prognosis than those with polypoid growth (PG) patterns. The pathogenic origin and biological growth pattern of small advanced CRCs remain unclear. In the future, more detailed comprehensive gene analysis, including methylation and snip analysis of small CRC with next generation sequencing, will be required. |