Results of APC and DCC LOH, KRAS and microsatellite instability indicate our colorectal cancer cases were typical of sporadic cancers following the 'chromosomal instability' pathway.
Nine microsatellite markers close to specific genes, that is, APC (5q21), PTPRJ (11p11), p53 (17p13) and DCC (18q21), were analyzed in 32 ACF and samples of normal crypts from the same 28 patients.
Current data suggest that mutations in p53, DCC and APC tumour suppressor genes contribute to the stepwise progression of anal squamous cell carcinoma in immunocompetent individuals.
Ki-ras gene mutations, LOH of the APC and DCC genes, and microsatellite instability in primary colorectal carcinoma are not associated with micrometastases in pericolonic lymph nodes or with patients' survival.