serrated pathway

Definition: The serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is a relatively rare condition characterized by multiple and/or large serrated polyps of the colon. Mutation in BRAF, along with CpG island methylator phenotype, is the molecular marker of "serrated neoplasia pathway" CRC, in which serrated polyps are thought to be the precursor lesions.

Types

 sessile serrated pathway
 traditional serrated pathway

Abundant recent data suggest that sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) is an early precursor lesion in the serrated pathway of carcinogenesis. It is believed that SSA/Ps develop cancer by an SSA/P-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence.

Hyperplastic polyps (HPs) share some histologic and molecular characteristics with SSA/P, but it is unclear whether SSA/Ps are derived from HPs or whether they develop by a different pathogenetic pathway.

Some studies have reported the existence of BRAF mutations in sporadic MSI CRCs which show CIMP suggesting the existence of this alternative pathway.

BRAF mutations and DNA methylation would be early events in this pathway with serrated polyps as precursor lesions.

The lack of adenoma-specific mutations such as APC, KRAS and TP53 in sporadic MSI CRCs, and the fact that BRAF mutation and methylation of CpG islands are exceptional in classic adenomas supports the existence of this pathway.

Tumors following this pathway show some specific characteristics, being more frequent in females and located in the right colon.

Moreover, some preliminary studies suggest that these tumors could be unresponsive to 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of this disease is made by the fulfillment of any of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) clinical criteria.

SPS exhibits an increased risk of CRC, which occurs on average in subjects aged between 50 to 60 years.

There is a high incidence of synchronous cancers and CRC shows a trend to be located in the proximal colon.

These patients and their relatives should receive strict surveillance strategies because of the high risk of CRC. This review focuses on the SPS, its genetics and management.

Hyperplastic polyps have traditionally been considered not to have malignant potential. New pathological classification of serrated polyps and recent discoveries about the serrated pathway of carcinogenesis have revolutionized the concepts and revitalized the research in this area.

Serrated polyposis syndrome is a relatively rare condition characterized by multiple and/or large serrated polyps of the colon. Clinical characteristics, etiology and relationship of serrated polyposis syndrome to CRC have not been clarified yet.

Patients with this syndrome show a high risk of CRC and both sporadic and hereditary cases have been described. Clinical criteria have been used for diagnosis and frequent colonoscopy surveillance should be performed in order to prevent colorectal cancer.

"Serrated polyposis" syndrome is the paradigm of the "serrated pathway of carcinogenesis" and an excellent and interesting human model for the study of the features that drive progression from hyperplastic polyps (HP) to serrated carcinoma.

These patients show clinical, pathological and molecular features that are very useful for expanding the knowledge of this particular and alternative carcinogenetic pathway.

Clinical synopsis

Characteristics of patients with SPS have been defined mainly based on the publication of series of cases.

There is no sex predominance and the mean age at diagnosis is around 55 years.

SPS has largely been considered a genetic disease, but the pattern of inheritance remains unknown: both autosomal recessive and autosomal dominant patterns have been suggested.

Published case series report that between 10%-50% of patients meeting SPS criteria have a family history of CRC. In this way, Boparai et al. have recently described an increased risk of CRC [relative risk (RR) = 5.4] and SPS (RR = 39) in first-degree relatives of probands diagnosed with SPS compared to the general population.

It is important to point out that conventional adenomas may coexist with serrated polyps in patients with SPS.

Some authors have suggested the existence of various phenotypes within the SPS definition.

Kalady et al described three phenotypic patterns in a series of 115 patients with multiple serrated polyps:
 (1) The patients presented a right-sided phenotype with large sessile serrated adenomas (SSAs) and with a CRC onset in younger individuals (48%);
 (2) Left-sided phenotype with a greater amount of small polyps (16%);
 (3) Mixed phenotype with shared features of the previous phenotypes (37%).

These different patterns should be revised in future studies.

Environmental factors could be partially responsible for the phenotypic differences and model the unknown pattern of inheritance.

Smoking, being overweight and some drugs have been postulated as potential risk factors of HPs.

Samowitz et aldescribed a statistically significant dose-response association between CIMP+ CRC and smoking.

Moreover, Walker et al found a strong association between cigarette smoking and SPS (odds ratio = 8.3; 95% CI: 3.0-22.9) in a case-control study comparing SPS patients with a population-based registry.

Wallace et al, using the data of multicenter chemoprevention trials, came upon the association of some environmental factors with an increased risk of colonic serrated polyps (not necessary SPS criteria).

On the one hand, in the left colon, obesity, smoking, increased dietary fat and red meat intake were linked with serrated polyps.

On the other hand, in the right colon, the risk factors were folate intake and family history of polyps, whereas aspirin treatment was shown as a protective factor.

Diagnostic criteria

Diagnostic criteria of SPS were first defined by Burt and Jass in 2000 for the WHO. These criteria have been recently redefined and this entity is now called "Serrated Polyposis".

A patient is diagnosed with SPS if at least one of the following criteria is met:
 (1) At least five serrated polyps proximal to the sigmoid colon, two of which are greater than 10 mm in diameter;
 (2) Any number of serrated polyps occurring proximal to the sigmoid colon in an individual who has a first-degree relative with serrated polyposis;
 (3) More than 20 serrated polyps of any size distributed throughout the colon.

This arbitrary definition has been considered over the years somewhat restrictive. Moreover, SPS probably comprises a heterogeneous group of patients that includes several phenotypes of serrated polyposis. However, until the molecular basis of this syndrome is better understood, this clinical definition is applicable.

The "serrated pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis"

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and lethal disease. It is a major health issue in western countries where it represents the second most common fatal malignancy after lung cancer.

Until recently, it has been thought that most CRCs arise from conventional adenomas via the traditional tumor suppressor pathway initiated with a mutation of the APC gene, but it has been found that this pathway accounts for only approximately 70%-80% of CRC cases.

The majority of the remaining CRC cases (20%-30%) follow an alternative pathway leading to CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP+) carcinoma with BRAF mutation and with or without microsatellite instability.

This pathway is called the "serrated pathway of colorectal carcinogenesis".

The mechanism of carcinomas arising from this alternative pathway seems to begin with an activating mutation of the BRAF oncogene. This BRAF mutation provokes the development of serrated lesions that are mainly microvesicular hyperplastic polyps or sessile serrated polyps.

These lesions are prone to methylation of CpG islands in the promoter regions of genes resulting in their epigenetic silencing.

The best characterized gene silenced by this mechanism is MLH1. This gene is one of the mismatch repair genes and its epigenetic silencing results in sporadic tumors with microsatellite instability (MSI).

However, other genes such as P16, MGMT, or IGFBP7 may also be epigenetically inactivated.

Genetics

Until recently, it has been thought that most colorectal cancers arise from conventional adenomas via the traditional tumor suppressor pathway initiated by a mutation of the APC gene, but it has been found that this pathway accounts for only approximately 70%-80% of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases.

The majority of the remaining colorectal cancer cases follow an alternative pathway leading to CpG island methylator phenotype carcinoma with BRAF mutation and with or without microsatellite instability.

The mechanism of carcinomas arising from this alternative pathway seems to begin with an activating mutation of the BRAF oncogene.

The serrated neoplasia pathway is thought to give rise to the majority of sporadic microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) colon cancer.

Tubular and tubulovillous adenomas with features of the serrated neoplasia pathway have been described, and unlike "sessile serrated adenomas", these lesions lack BRAF mutations.

Histological analysis of the precursor adenomas to sporadic MSI-H colon cancer demonstrated a high frequency of "crypt serrations" compared with MSS colon cancer (93 vs 36%, P@<@0.001).

BRAF mutations are found in 76% of sporadic MSI-H and 11% of MSS colon cancers (P@<@0.001).

The presence of BRAF mutations in these adenomatous precursors suggests that they represent "sessile serrated adenomas" with complete cytologic dysplasia.

Patients with sporadic MSI-H colon cancer were more likely to harbour synchronous "sessile serrated adenomas" (20 vs 8%; P=0.023).

Somatic molecular characteristics of polyps in patients with serrated polyposis syndrome

Molecular heterogeneity among polyps from patients with SPS has been described.

In fact, although a mixed phenotype has been identified, SPS patients can be molecularly classified into two defined groups:
 The first group is characterized by the presence of relatively few large right-sided polyps which show BRAF mutation;
 The other group presents with many small left-sided polyps associated with KRAS mutation.

Mutations in KRAS and BRAF are more common in HPs from SPS patients as well as in younger cases.

The frequency of BRAF mutations in SPS patients is higher than KRAS mutations.

The combined incidence of BRAF and KRAS mutations in serrated polyps ranges from 64% to 75%.

The presence of epithelial dysplasia is associated with higher rates (90%) of mutation in either BRAF or KRAS, indicating the importance of the activation of the RAS-RAF-MAP kinase pathway in the pathogenesis of the serrated lesions.

Furthermore, nearly 90% of all CIMP+ CRCs have either BRAF or KRAS mutations.

Serrated polyps from patients with SPS have different frequencies of BRAF mutation and it is higher in those lesions that show typical features of SSA.

However, there are differences between studies due to the methodology used for the detection of BRAF mutation or because of the lack of consensus about the diagnostic terms for serrated lesions.

Carvajal-Carmona et al proposed molecular criteria that could complement the clinical WHO criteria for SPS.

They recommended that SPS should be diagnosed if BRAF or KRAS mutations are present at a significantly higher frequency in a patient’s polyps than in sporadic HPs.

In addition, SPS could be excluded if both BRAF and KRAS mutations are present in less than 10% of HPs from one patient, or if less than 5% of HPs are MSI.

Genetic predisposition in patients with serrated polyposis syndrome

SPS is a very heterogeneous condition and it has been suggested that each phenotype may result from different underlying genetic causes.

Familial cases of SPS have been reported. Although the genetic basis of SPS remains unknown, both recessive and dominant transmission patterns have been proposed.

Young et al provided evidence for a syndrome of familial CRC distinct from hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer by describing 11 families, of which 6 met the Amsterdam  I  criteria (Amserdam criterias), with multiple members across several generations with CRC with variable MSI phenotype, BRAF mutation in 70% and hypermethylation of MINT31 in 80%.

Moreover CRCs showed early age at diagnosis and were more likely to show a serrated architecture.

Frazier et al observed that patients whose CRC show methylation in p16, MINT1, MINT31 and MLH1 are 14 times more likely to have a family history of cancer than patients with methylation at none of the four loci.

Taking into account these studies and the fact that extensive DNA methylation in normal colorectal mucosa has been described in patients with SPS, it has been postulated that the hypermethylation of gene promoters is due to genetic predisposition.

On the other hand, patients meeting criteria for hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) may also fulfil criteria of SPS.

Occasional HPs have also been described in MYH-associated polyposis (MAP) patients and some of them met the criteria for SPS.

Moreover HPs and SSAs can also be considered a phenotypic expression of MAP and pathogenic biallelic MYH mutations were detected in 1 patient with SPS.

For that reason MYH mutations should be studied in SPS patients, especially when adenomas occur simultaneously with HPs in the same patient.

PTEN mutations have also been identified in patients with a combination of hyperplastic and adenomatous polyps.

A recent study from Roberts et al has showed linkage to 2q32.2-q33.3 in approximately half of the SPS families studied.

Sequencing of coding regions and exon-intron boundaries of five potential candidate genes in this region did not reveal any variants segregating with disease.

Together these data support the existence of more than one genetic cause of SPS.

Identification of the underlying genetic defect of SPS will help to improve management of these patients and may identify therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRC associated with this disease.

Risk of cancer in serrated polyposis syndrome

Serrated polyposis syndrome has been associated with an increased incidence of CRC.

In the published series, about 25%-70% of patients with SPS had CRC at time of diagnosis or during follow-up.

In the largest series with patients meeting WHO criteria for SPS, 35% of patients had CRC (28.5% at initial endoscopy and 6.5% during the mean follow-up of 5.6 years).

In this study, increased number of polyps and the presence of serrated adenomas were associated with CRC.

The results of the larger published series are summarized in Table 2. In addition, first degree relatives of SPS patients have an increased risk for both CRC and SPS compared to the general population.

Recommendations for treatment and surveillance

The management of patients with SPS should be based on regular screening colonoscopies in order to remove potential premalignant lesions.

It is important to point out that it could be difficult to detect these serrated polyps and colonoscopy should be done under high quality conditions.

Serrated polyps are less likely than adenomas to bleed, so fecal occult blood test could be less suitable for an early diagnosis.

Surveillance recommendations can be done as follows:
 (1) Colonoscopy with pancolonic chromoendoscopy every 1-2 years with removal of all polyps. It is recommended that this resection be performed at a tertiary centre, if possible;
 (2) If colonoscopy does not allow the total control of colonic polyps because of their size or number or the patient does not wish to have such frequent colonoscopies or cancer is detected, colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis should be indicated;
 (3) First-degree relatives should be offered 1-2 years screening colonoscopy from 10 years younger than the index case and if it is possible by pancolonic chromoendoscopy.

Pedunculated polyps can be removed by conventional electrocautery snare polypectomy.

The technique of choice for removal of flat and large HPs is endoscopic mucosal resection.

Besides, it may be advisable to apply argon plasma coagulation in the lesion borders in order to reduce the risk of recurrence.

Molecular characteristics of serrated polyps

As mentioned above, BRAF mutations and DNA methylation would be early events in this pathway.

In fact, epigenetic changes in normal mucosa in patients with SPS have been described.

The first role of BRAF in the serrated pathway is probably to allow the apoptosis evasion.

Then, under normal conditions, these cells are eliminated by regular senescence.

However, the silencing of key cell cycle regulatory genes such as p16, IGFBP7 or p53 through promoter methylation allows the cell to escape from senescence, facilitating its proliferation.

When cells acquire other mutations, activated BRAF itself could also drive proliferation and facilitate the maintenance of an invasive phenotype.

BRAF mutation has even been observed in "serrated hyperplastic aberrant crypt foci", suggesting that these lesions are probably the earliest histological evident lesions in the serrated pathway.

There are several lines of evidence suggesting the existence of two parallel serrated pathways depending on the oncogene involved: BRAF or KRAS.

The serrated pathway that involves BRAF mutations usually leads to CIMP tumors and tumors are located in the proximal colon.

These tumors will be MSI or microsatellite stable (MSS) depending on the involvement of MLH1.

As has been already stated, SSA seems to be the precursor lesion in the BRAF serrated pathway.

In contrast, serrated tumors with KRAS mutations are more frequently MSI-low or MSS and are frequently associated with MGMT silencing.

These tumors are predominantly located in the left colorectum.

Differently, traditional sessile adenomas (TSA) would be the intermediate lesion in the KRAS serrated pathway.

CpG island methylator phenotype in colorectal cancer

CpG islands are 0.5- to 2-kb regions rich in cytosine guanine dinucleotides and are present in the 5’ region of approximately 50% of human genes.

CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) in colorectal cancer is characterized by methylation of CpG islands within the promoter regions of multiple genes resulting in the silencing of gene expression.

It might be assumed that methylation of CpG islands in most cancers arises stochastically.

This phenomenon can alter the expression of genes which are known to be important in neoplastic development, such as p16, MGMT, and the mismatch repair gene MLH1.

However, the role of some genes affected by hypermethylation is not associated with colorectal carcinogenesis suggesting that not all de novo events are subject to growth selection.

Taking into account that particular sequence motifs are significantly overrepresented among promoters vulnerable to CIMP, it is not surprising that some CpG islands are more likely to undergo hypermethylation than others.

The balance between DNA methyltransferases and the transcriptional machinery will determine the extent of methylation.

Moreover, an active transcription may provide protection from de novo methylation.

The CIMP pathway is heterogeneous with respect to MSI status and appears to be responsible for approximately 30% of all sporadic CRC.

There are different studies showing that a high proportion of polyps in SPS are CIMP+.

Chan et al also observed that 75% of serrated polyps from patients with SPS showed CIMP frequently and had methylation of the p16 gene.

Moreover, extensive DNA methylation in normal colorectal mucosa has been described in patients with SPS, suggesting a field defect in epigenetic regulation and, consequently, a possible underlying genetic predisposition to extensive and early onset of DNA methylation.

Furthermore, this phenomenon would be associated with a predisposition to CRC that would arise through the serrated pathway.

Open references

 Serrated pathway: alternative route to colorectal cancer. Patai AV, Molnár B, Tulassay Z, Sipos F. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Feb 7;19(5):607-15. doi : 10.3748/wjg.v19.i5.607 PMID: 23431044 [Free]

 Serrated polyposis syndrome: Molecular, pathological and clinical aspects
Carla Guarinos et al., 2012. Serrated polyposis syndrome: Molecular, pathological and clinical aspects. World J Gastroenterol 2012 May 28; 18(20): 2452-2461 - http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/full/v18/i20/2452.htm

References

 Multiplicity and Molecular Heterogeneity of Colorectal Carcinomas in Individuals With Serrated Polyposis. Rosty C, Walsh MD, Walters RJ, Clendenning M, Pearson SA, Jenkins MA, Win AK, Hopper JL, Sweet K, Frankel WL, Aronson M, Gallinger S, Goldblatt J, Tucker K, Greening S, Gattas MR, Woodall S, Arnold J, Walker NI, Parry S, Young JP, Buchanan DD. Am J Surg Pathol. 2012 Dec 1. PMID: 23211288

 Proximal colon cancers and the serrated pathway: a systematic analysis of precursor histology and BRAF mutation status. Patil DT, Shadrach BL, Rybicki LA, Leach BH, Pai RK. Mod Pathol. 2012 Jun 8. PMID: 22684223