Is the new era of colorectal cancer classification finally here?

摘要

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is molecularly defined into three groups-chromosomal instable (CIN), microsatellite instable (MSI) and CpG island methylator pheno-type (CIMP)-that differ in terms of pathology, outcome and response to therapy, but this distinction is not used in clinical practice. Two new studies published in Nature Medicine1-2 could change how we classify CRC and how we use this classification in clinical management of the disease (Figure 1).