Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer in Western countries. Exogenous factors play a major role in the aetiology of sporadic colorectal cancer representing about 90% of all cases, hereditary cancers accounting for about 10% of patients. Thus, in the large majority of cases, cell dysfunction in CRC results from multiple rather than single, gene interactions. Numerous cellular events and environmental influences modify gene expression or post-translational protein modifications.

Changes like glycosylation of proteins and lipids which are a common feature in colorectal cancer and influence cancer cell behaviour, cannot be directly detected by genetic studies. Better than genomics studies, functional proteomics studies allow the investigation of environmental factors over time, allowing the monitoring of metabolic responses to various stimuli. However, proteomics studies also have several drawbacks: a) current tools only allow narrow-range analyses, b) identification of proteins of interest remains cumbersome, c) protein studies address multiple compounds of high complexity, d) large amount of proteins are necessary to allow analysis, e) protein research require specific tools, e.g. tagged antibodies, that first have to be developed.

Some protein tests are already in application for CRC: a classical prognostic test in colorectal cancer is based on the detection and quantification of a single protein (CEA) in body fluids. Recently, a screening assay based on APC protein truncation test has also been proposed. However, studies linking large protein expression patterns with clinical outcome in colorectal cancer are still in their infancy. To be able to predict occurrence of disease, and treatment outcome, more studies on genotype-phenotype correlations are needed both in sporadic and in hereditary colorectal cancer.

Key words: proteomics, colonic neoplasms, HNPCC, FAP, p53, CEA, APC, protein truncation test.