Looking at genetic balance in two specific chromosomes is proving useful for predicting the outcome in colon cancer.

Chromosomal imbalances - abnormalities in the DNA - are quite common in cancer. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in the US, and colleagues elsewhere, have found such imbalances around chromosome 8 and 18 in colon cancer. They studied DNA from 180 patients with early stage colon cancer.

Looking at the two chromosomes, they were able to divide the patients into three groups. The first group had so-called L tumours, with abnormalities in chromosomes 8 and 18. The second, the L/R tumour group, had abnormalities in either 8 or 18 - but not both. The third, R tumour group, had no abnormalities.

Survival at five years was 100 per cent in the R group, 74 per cent in the L/R group, and 58 per cent for those in the L group. This study shows the enormous potential of studying DNA changes in cancer - a new approach to looking at the outcome that could, in future, enhance treatment decisions.

Source

Lancet January 19 2002