ROLE OF ABERRANT CRYPT FOCI IN UNDERSTANDING THE PATHOGENESIS OF COLON-CANCER

Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) are present in carcinogen treated rodent col ons and in the colons of humans with a high risk for developing the di sease. It is proposed that ACF are preneoplastic lesions. Quantificati on of the number and growth features of ACF has been employed to study modulators of colon carcinogenesis. In this review, examples are pres ented to support the concept that ACF are preneoplastic lesions and th at sequential quantification of their number and growth features (cryp t multiplicity) in animal colons may provide further insight into the pathogenesis of colon cancer. It is proposed that cellular and molecul ar heterogeneity among ACF with different growth and morphologic featu res will be invaluable in the identification of events critically asso ciated with cancer development.