Molecular Analysis of a Colorectal Carcinoma From a Mummy of the XVTH Century

Abstract

IntroductionColorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent neoplasia nowadays. At molecular level, CRC results from the progressive accumulation of genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to the transformation of normal colonic epithelial cells to colon adenocarcinoma cells. Loss of genomic instability appears to be a key molecular and pathogenetic step in the tumorigenesis process.In the past tumors might have been rare. Molecular studies of tumors identified in ancient mummies may be helpful to shed light on the history of neoplasm and on the relationship between genetic [...]