[Genetic steps in colorectal cancer].

Though colorectal tumorigenesis has long been thought to be a multistep mechanisms, recently has it become possible to identify the molecular events that underlie the initiation and progression of colorectal carcinoma. Though the analysis of mutations in colorectal tumors at various stages of their development allows definition of a model for colorectal tumorigenesis, because the progression is the result of a series of genetic changes that accumulate activation of oncogene (K-ras), inactivation of tumor-suppressor gene (two-hit mutation of APC, Pla2s, p53, suppressor gene on chromosome 8p22 locus, NF2 and DCC) and mismatch repair gene (hMSH2, hMLH1 hPMS family and TGF beta II receptor linked DNA repair). These accumulation of genetic alterations contribute to tumor development and/or progression in primary colorectal carcinoma.