Progression of colon cancer
 
 

Stage 1 (polypP):  Loss of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR gene APC.   Stage 2 (benign, precancerous growth) Stage 3 (class II adenoma, benign):  Activation of ONCOGENE ras.		Stage 4 (class III adenoma, benign):  Loss of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR gene DCC. Stage 5 (Carcinoma, malignant):  Loss of TUMOR SUPPRESSOR gene p53. Stage 6 (Metastasis):  multiple additional changes; loss of anti-metastasis gene.
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