Analisi delle alterazioni genetiche nelle metastasi epatiche da carcinoma del colon-retto

Colorectalcancer (CRC) is the third most common malignancy worldwide. CRC patients tend to be diagnosed with an advanced disease. About 25% of patients first present with disease that has already metastasised; in addition, 40-50% of newly diagnosed patients will go on to develop metastases. Several genetic alterations have been described in malignant primary tumors of the colorectum, but few such association have been made with the progression of these tumors. This study compares gentic changes found in distant liver metastases and in the primary colon carcinomas.