P53 AND CD44 AS CLINICAL MARKERS OF TUMOR PROGRESSION IN COLORECTAL CARCINOGENESIS

Recent advances in molecular genetics have importantly improved our un derstanding of the development of colorectal cancer. The present revie w gives an overview of the clinical value of the tumour-suppressor gen e, p53, and the CD44 cell adhesion molecule in colorectal cancer and t he pitfalls encountered in the immunohistochemical detection of these proteins. Immunohistochemistry potentially forms a procedure applicabl e for routine diagnosis and prognostication. Therefore, p53 expression and the independent prognostic importance of CD44v6 expression is giv en particular emphasis, and other molecular events underlying colorect al carcinogenesis are only mentioned briefly.