Narrative review comparing the epidemiology, characteristics, and survival in sporadic colorectal carcinoma/Lynch syndrome

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Colorectal carcinoma is the third most prevalent neoplasm in the world, and the second cause of death by cancer. The most part of these neoplasms are sporadic by somatic mutations, but around 15% are hereditary, such as Lynch syndrome or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Despite being the same tumor, it has differences between these two contexts as well as different prognosis. In Lynch syndrome cases, the survival of these individuals was greater than that observed in sporadic cases. Methods This review focuses on the different characteristics and development of colorectal carcinoma in sporadic and Lynch syndrome cases, in order to conclude what may motivate the greater survival in the tumors associated with this syndrome. Results Although the histopathological features drive into a worse prognosis, the colorectal carcinoma in the Lynch Syndrome presents a greater survival comparing to sporadic colorectal carcinoma. Discussion The greater survival in the colorectal carcinoma in the HNPCC compared to the sporadic carcinomas has been linked to factors such as high microsatellite instability, diploid predominance, earlier screening for colo-rectal carcinoma, deficient DNA repair mechanism, low p53 mutation rate, and presence of lymphoid aggregates involving the neoplasm. Conclusion Further studies should be conducted to provide new insights about survival of colorectal carcinoma in Lynch syndrome, as well as the therapeutic alternatives for this neoplasia.