Transcriptomic profiles differentiate normal rectal epithelium and adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma is a histologic diagnosis based on subjective findings. Transcriptional profiles have been used to differentiate normal tissue from disease and could provide a means of identifying malignancy. The goal of this study was to generate and test transcriptomic profiles that differentiate normal from adenocarcinomatous rectum.

Transcriptional profiles underpin microsatellite status and associated features in colon cancer.

Introduction: While microsatellite instability is associated with prognosis and distinct clinical phenotypes in colon cancer, the basis for this remains incompletely defined. Novel bioinformatic techniques enable a detailed interrogation of the relationship between gene expression profiles and tumor characteristics.

Aim: We aimed to determine if microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) and microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors could be differentiated by gene expression profiles.

Gene expression profile is associated with chemoradiation resistance in rectal cancer.

Aim: Patients with rectal cancer who achieve a complete pathological response after preoperative chemoradiation (CRT) have an improved oncological outcome. Identifying factors associated with a lack of response could help our understanding of the underlying biology of treatment resistance. This study aimed to develop a gene expression signature for CRT-resistant rectal cancer using high-throughput nucleotide microarrays.

High-throughput arrays identify distinct genetic profiles associated with lymph node involvement in rectal cancer.

Background: Preoperative clinical diagnosis of lymph node involvement guides treatment decisions for rectal cancer. Unfortunately, clinical staging still suffers from a lack of accuracy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate objective genetic differences in primary rectal cancers with and without associated lymph node metastasis.

BRAF mutations in colorectal cancer are associated with distinct clinical characteristics and worse prognosis.

Background: Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease with multiple underlying genetic mutations causing different clinical phenotypes. Mutation in the BRAF oncogene is a key step in malignant transformation within the methylator pathway to colorectal cancer. However, there is a paucity of information about BRAF mutant colorectal tumors.