Heterogeneity in colorectal cancer Genetic, transcriptomic and genomic aspects

Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cancer is key to understand its Achilles’ heels to be able to improve treatment. The heterogeneity of cancer has been examined by major worldwide consortia efforts. For example, the Cancer Genome Atlas Project (TCGA) generated multiple levels of data such as whole-exome sequencing, array-based DNA methylation profiling, -mRNA sequencing, -microRNA sequencing and revolutionized how the heterogeneity of cancer can be classified on a molecular level. Next to important insights about the molecular basis of cancer, they provided a rich open source repository of data for more detailed studies. This thesis will describe and discuss results from characterizing pathomechanisms in colorectal cancer from the genetic, genomic and transcriptomic facets