Molecular and Genetic Features of Colorectalcancer in Young Patients

Abstract

The literature review represents the current state of research on molecular and genetic features of colorectal cancer in young patients. A steady increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer among young patients has been noted over recent years. Along with hereditary factors determining a high risk of colon tumours in patients who are carriers of germinal mutations in the genes responsible for the development of syndrome pathology (such as Lynch syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, etc.), molecular and genetic changes in the cells of the colonic epithelium define the distinctive clinical and morphological features, prognosis, and response to specific therapy in young patients with colorectal cancer. To date, the main pathogenetic pathways involved in the promotion of carcinogenesis in the gut epithelium tissue have been identified: chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability, epigenetic abnormalities includinghyper-or hypomethylation of the tumour genome. Despite the well-studied molecular carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer, there are still many gaps in theunderstanding of the nature of such malignant neoplasms in patients with the disease diagnosed at an early age.