Research from Weill Cornell Medicine suggests that most colorectal cancers begin with the loss of intestinal stem cells, rather than genetic alterations. This discovery challenges previous theories and provides new insights for early diagnosis. The study found that both conventional and serrated adenomas develop from a decrease in a protein called aPKC, leading to the loss of normal stem cells in the intestine. Understanding these mechanisms could lead to better diagnostics and treatments for colorectal cancer. The researchers are now investigating aPKC expression in human tumors to develop tests for early detection and classification of tumors.
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Researchers overturn the prevailing theory for colorectal tumor initiation
