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The landscape of somatic mutation in normal colorectal epithelial cells.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Lee-Six, Henry 
Olafsson, Sigurgeir 
Ellis, Peter 
Osborne, Robert J 
Sanders, Mathijs A 

Abstract

The colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence has provided a paradigmatic framework for understanding the successive somatic genetic changes and consequent clonal expansions that lead to cancer1. However, our understanding of the earliest phases of colorectal neoplastic changes-which may occur in morphologically normal tissue-is comparatively limited, as for most cancer types. Here we use whole-genome sequencing to analyse hundreds of normal crypts from 42 individuals. Signatures of multiple mutational processes were revealed; some of these were ubiquitous and continuous, whereas others were only found in some individuals, in some crypts or during certain periods of life. Probable driver mutations were present in around 1% of normal colorectal crypts in middle-aged individuals, indicating that adenomas and carcinomas are rare outcomes of a pervasive process of neoplastic change across morphologically normal colorectal epithelium. Colorectal cancers exhibit substantially increased mutational burdens relative to normal cells. Sequencing normal colorectal cells provides quantitative insights into the genomic and clonal evolution of cancer.

Description

Keywords

Adenoma, Aged, Axin Protein, Carcinoma, Cell Transformation, Neoplastic, Clone Cells, Colon, Colorectal Neoplasms, DNA Copy Number Variations, DNA Mutational Analysis, Epithelial Cells, Female, Humans, Intestinal Mucosa, Male, Middle Aged, Mutation, Prodromal Symptoms, Rectum, Stem Cells

Journal Title

Nature

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0028-0836
1476-4687

Volume Title

574

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
MRC (unknown)