Dr. Marshall on Molecular Variances Between Right- Versus Left-Sided Colon Cancer

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, associate director, Clinical Research, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University Hospital, discusses molecular variances between right- and left-sided colon cancer.

In 2016, when Alan P. Venook, MD, presented his data from the 80405 clinical trial stating the differences in survival between right- versus left-sided colon cancer, oncologists began to think differently in regards to colon cancer, explains Marshall.

Marshall’s study focused on the fundamental differences between right- and left-sided colon cancer. By studying many different rectal cancers and comparing them with left-sided colon cancers, Marshall gathered data on the molecular profiling and found that there were subtle differences between the 2—but not enough to distinguish them. Another study showed that there was no real difference in clinical outcome, Marshall says. Further studies are being done to discover any molecular differences.