Martinelli Mara, Cascelli Nicoletta, Bartolo Ottavia, Ciuffi Mario, Mazzoccoli Carmela, Dieli Rosalia, Lioy Rosa, Landriscina Matteo, Calabrese Carlo, Crispo Fabiana
Laboratory of Preclinical and Translational Research, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy.
Endoscopy Unit, IRCCS-CROB, Referral Cancer Center of Basilicata, 85028 Rionero in Vulture, Italy.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Aug 30;26(17):8445. doi: 10.3390/ijms26178445.
Lateral Spreading Tumors (LSTs) are a type of non-polypoid lesion known for their flat morphology, which often leads to them going undetected. However, especially nongranular (NG) LSTs have the potential for malignant transformation. Recent advances in endoscopic technologies have improved the detection of these lesions. Despite growing research interest in their role in colorectal cancer (CRC) development, a comprehensive molecular characterization of LSTs is still lacking. The aim of this review is to highlight the current knowledge of the molecular characteristics of LSTs, that may help in determining whether LSTs can be prognostic indicators and identifying cases where they may rapidly progress to CRC through characteristic molecular pathways. From a mutational point of view, LSTs seem to be more closely associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) than with polypoid lesions. Nonetheless, they have peculiar epigenetic and genetic traits, which set them apart from other adenomas or bowel diseases. Elucidating their role in CRC development would provide benefits for their classification and management, by enhancing clinical surveillance strategies for patients diagnosed with these lesions in order to improve the efficient prevention of colorectal cancer.
侧向发育型肿瘤（LSTs）是一种以扁平形态为特征的非息肉样病变，这常常导致它们难以被发现。然而，尤其是非颗粒型（NG）LSTs具有恶变的可能性。内镜技术的最新进展提高了对这些病变的检测能力。尽管对它们在结直肠癌（CRC）发生发展中的作用的研究兴趣日益浓厚，但LSTs的全面分子特征仍不明确。本综述的目的是强调LSTs分子特征的现有知识，这可能有助于确定LSTs是否可作为预后指标，并识别那些可能通过特征性分子途径迅速进展为CRC的病例。从突变的角度来看，LSTs似乎与炎症性肠病（IBDs）的关联比与息肉样病变更为密切。尽管如此，它们具有独特的表观遗传和遗传特征，这使它们有别于其他腺瘤或肠道疾病。阐明它们在CRC发生发展中的作用将为其分类和管理带来益处，通过加强对诊断为这些病变的患者的临床监测策略，以提高结直肠癌的有效预防。
