The APC gene in colorectal cancer

R Fodde - European journal of cancer, 2002 - Elsevier
European journal of cancer, 2002Elsevier
Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are not only responsible for
familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), but also play a rate-limiting role in the majority of
sporadic colorectal cancers. Colorectal tumours are known to arise through a gradual series
of histological changes, the so-called 'adenoma–carcinoma'sequence, each accompanied
by a genetic alteration in a specific oncogene or tumour suppressor gene. Loss of APC
function triggers this chain of molecular and histological changes. In general, an intestinal …
Mutations in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene are not only responsible for familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), but also play a rate-limiting role in the majority of sporadic colorectal cancers. Colorectal tumours are known to arise through a gradual series of histological changes, the so-called ‘adenoma–carcinoma’ sequence, each accompanied by a genetic alteration in a specific oncogene or tumour suppressor gene. Loss of APC function triggers this chain of molecular and histological changes. In general, an intestinal cell needs to comply with two essential requirements to develop into a cancer: it must acquire selective advantage to allow for the initial clonal expansion, and genetic instability to allow for multiple hits at other genes responsible for tumour progression and malignant transformation. Inactivation of APC seems to fulfill both requirements. In this short review, I will discuss the role played by APC in providing, when mutated, selective advantage, through constitutional activation of the Wnt signal transduction pathway, and chromosomal instability to the nascent intestinal tumor cell.
Elsevier