Copy Number Alterations As Novel Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets in Colorectal Cancer

Overview

Journal Cancers (Basel)

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Oncology

Date 2022 May 14

PMID 35565354

Authors

Elaine S Tan

Todd C Knepper

Xuefeng Wang

Jennifer B Permuth

Liang Wang

Jason B Fleming

Hao Xie

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In colorectal cancer, somatic mutations have played an important role as prognostic and predictive biomarkers, with some also functioning as therapeutic targets. Another genetic aberration that has shown significance in colorectal cancer is copy number alterations (CNAs). CNAs occur when a change to the DNA structure propagates gain/amplification or loss/deletion in sections of DNA, which can often lead to changes in protein expression. Multiple techniques have been developed to detect CNAs, including comparative genomic hybridization with microarray, low pass whole genome sequencing, and digital droplet PCR. In this review, we summarize key findings in the literature regarding the role of CNAs in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, from adenoma to carcinoma to distant metastasis, and discuss the roles of CNAs as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in colorectal cancer.

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