These insights provide unique opportunities for genetic testing in predisposed, asymptomatic patients that can direct screening efforts and their clinical management. This review examines several inherited colon cancer predispositions, well described clinically for a century, that are now amenable to genetic testing. Additional discussion focuses on colon cancer predisposition traits that occur with high frequency but low penetrance characteristics. Finally, genetic tests for tumor markers that potentially have prognostic or therapeutic implications are reviewed. A TI - Different mechanisms in the tumorigenesis of proximal and distal colon cancers.
Genomic instability is seen in most types of malignancies.
Almost all sporadic MIN tumors occur in the proximal colon, whereas most sporadic CIN tumors are distributed in the distal colon. The two familial syndromes, familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome, constitute models for the different carcinogenic mechanisms in CIN and MIN tumors, respectively. This article reviews the principal differences between CIN and MIN tumors, evidence for a proximal and distal route in carcinogenesis, gender differences, and aspects of methylation in CIN and MIN colorectal tumorigenesis. TI - Genetic changes associated with colon tumor development. To assess the possible use of this agent as a preventive or treatment agent for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, we determined the effect of PEG 8000 on spontaneous carcinogenesis in the Min mouse.