Genetic signature provides information about colorectal cancer prognosis

“We then compared the genetic information we obtained with clinical data, and specifically with data on survival. In this way, we were able to identify genetic changes that were important for the prognosis of the disease in specific groups of patients. Some of these results confirmed previous findings, and some were completely new,” says Luis Nunes, a researcher at the Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology at Uppsala University and one of the first authors of the study.

The researchers also used the study results to develop a new method for molecularly classifying colorectal cancer.

“Our classification is based on gene activity and with it you can divide almost all tumors into five different subtypes with specific molecular characteristics. It’s a more precise division than the methods used before, and gives a clearer prognostic picture for different groups of tumors,” says Luis Nunes.

The researchers behind this study believe their discovery of prognostic mutations and new molecular subtypes of tumors is important for continuing studies of cancer genetics in colorectal cancer and for developing new diagnostic and treatment strategies.

“Our study is an important advance in the fight against colorectal cancer,” says Tobias Goblum. “We hope it will lead to more individualized and more effective treatments that improve the prognosis for patients.”

The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers at Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Umeå University and BGI Genomics in China.

Kirsten Henrickson