Clinical and molecular characterization of colorectal cancer in young Moroccan patients

Early-onset colorectal cancers are relatively rare. About 20% of colorectal cancers are familial or hereditary. Two autosomal dominantly inherited cancer syndromes are more studied: Lynch syndrome accounts for 2-5% of colorectal cancers and familial adenomatous polyposis represents 1% of total colorectal cancers. Unlike the familial adenomatous polyposis syndrome, there are no clinical features that help in easily recognizing Lynch syndrome. The young age of cancer occurrence could be a criterion that should raise a suspicion of Lynch syndrome. In Morocco, the average age at diagnosis of colorectal cancers according to the register of cancers of Casablanca is 56 years, which is 10 years earlier than in European countries. Our study aimed to assess the frequency and molecular characteristics of the Lynch syndrome in Moroccan early-onset colorectal cancers patients