Genomic events in the adenoma to carcinoma sequence.

Owing to its high incidence and anatomical accessibility, colorectal cancer has become the most extensively studied human neoplasm with respect to molecular pathogenesis. Many of the genomic alterations that occur when a normal colonic epithelial cell gradually is transformed into a malignant cell have been well characterized. An understanding of the molecular basis of colorectal cancer will lead to better cancer control through novel and scientifically based cancer risk assessment, diagnostics, prognostics, and therapeutics. It is imperative that clinicians possess a basic understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of colorectal cancer so that they are poised to embrace new, molecularly based, preventive and treatment measures. This task is formidable given the rapidly expanding body of scientific knowledge on the genomics of colorectal cancer.