Widespread genetic
alterations are a common feature of most colorectal cancers. While
specific recurrent alterations may reveal the involvement of a gene
or set of genes in the biology of the disease, the cumulated genomic
damage is likely to reflect the biological history of the neoplastic
cells. Furthermore, the functional implications behind many of these
genetic changes may show the evolutionary potential of the neoplastic
cells. High levels of genomic damage usually appear associated with
increased aggressiveness in colorectal cancer, and the use of different
assessments of genomic damage as independent prognostic factors has
been proposed. Therefore, appropriate definition of the extent of
cumulated alterations and their functional consequences may be of
interest in the understanding and management of cancer. Investigations
in our laboratory are addressed to the molecular characterization
of human colorectal cancer progression. Main areas of work include
(1) Development of methodologies for genetic and epigenetic profiling
of human tumors, (2) Identification of the mechanisms underlying
tumor progression, and (3) Genetic analysis of tumors to discover
new markers with diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications.
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