Abstract IA06: Colorectal cancer in inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), consisting mainly of ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease (CD), is characterized by chronic inflammation of the colon (and in the case of CD, other parts of the GI tract). As such, it is often considered the prototypical model of inflammation-associated carcinogenesis. After the well-known genetic syndromes that greatly predispose individuals to colorectal cancer (CRC), such as Lynch Syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), IBD is considered the third most common cause of high-risk CRC. Curiously, colitis-associated CRC (so-called CAC) shares several clinicopathological features with Lynch syndrome: CACs tend to affect young individuals, are often multifocal and/or affect the proximal colon, and frequently display mucinous and signet ring cell histology. Yet, to date, despite the identification of over 200 susceptibility genes for IBD itself, a germline genetic basis for human CAC has not been found.Recent studies suggest that the overall incidence of CAC is decreasing in recent years. Although the reasons are not known, this is likely due to a combination of better identification of dysplasia due to enhanced imaging technology, better removal of preneoplastic lesions, perhaps better control of inflammation with newer IBD medications, and possibly earlier surgery before CAC has a chance to develop.IBD itself is believed to occur in a genetically susceptible individual who gets exposed to certain environmental factors that trigger ...
Source: Cancer Research - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: High-Risk Cohorts and Genetic Susceptibility Source Type: research