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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 21, 2014; 20(35): 12420-12430
Published online Sep 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12420
Published online Sep 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i35.12420
Early-onset colorectal cancer: A sporadic or inherited disease?
Vittoria Stigliano, Lupe Sanchez-Mete, Marcello Anti, Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Aline Martayan, Division of Clinical Pathology, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy
Author contributions: Stigliano V, Sanchez-Mete L, Martayan A and Anti M solely contributed to this paper.
Correspondence to: Vittoria Stigliano, MD, Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy. stigliano@ifo.it
Telephone: +39-652665015 Fax: +39-652666259
Received: November 29, 2013
Revised: March 19, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: September 21, 2014
Revised: March 19, 2014
Accepted: July 15, 2014
Published online: September 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: The phenotypic and genotypic heterogeneity of early-onset colorectal cancers (CRCs) clearly emerges from clinical studies. We can distinguish two distinct entities, an inherited subtype, usually with familial aggregation, accounting for a relatively low percentage of cases, with specific clinicopathologic features and a “sporadic” subtype, often without family history of CRC, with distinct location and histopathologic features. There is a significant variability in the mechanisms underlying the development of early-onset CRC and it is certainly a big concern for clinicians and oncologists for the implications on prevention, diagnosis and clinical management of the disease.