Alterations of the Birt-Hogg-Dube gene (BHD) in sporadic colorectal tumours

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women, and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in the United States. There were approximately 150 000 new cases resulting in 57 000 deaths in 2002.1 CRC is one of the most studied cancer types and its underlying aetiology best, elucidated. Colorectal tumorigenesis involves a multistep process including genetic and epigenetic alterations of numerous CRC related genes that may act as either oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes.2-5 The majority of sporadic CRCs are characterised by deletions of large chromosomal segments, which are thought to represent the loss of wild type tumour suppressor genes.6 7 About 15% of sporadic CRCs, on the other hand, show microsatellite instability (MSI), characterised by the insertion and/or deletion of simple repeat sequences and indicative of the involvement of defective mismatch repair.