Colorectal cancer: The issue of uniformity throughout the colon in light of molecular marker expression

摘要

Colorectal cancer has been classically viewed as the same disease entity. However, differences do exist between right and left sided lesions in terms of clinical features, gross macroscopic pathology and epidemiology. To date, intensive research of molecular markers focusing on this area has yielded ambiguous results. Using a comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis of those markers associated with cancer dynamics, namely mutational character, proliferation rate and apoptosis, this study attempts to clarify whether there is a different biological background in carcinogenesis between the right and left colon. Prognosis in association with molecular markers expression is also addressed, along with a brief review of the relevant literature.