I) In most medical schools, the diseases of organ systems are divided within an integrated curriculum and are not taught in order, however, this situation will improve if several conditions are fulfilled.
2) The conditions that should be fulfilled are maintaining sufficient time for teaching general pathology and for bedside learning in the hospital's department of pathology.
3) Examples of training methods in the pathology of organ systems devised at various medical schools include the use of a virtual slide system, the presentation of surgically resected material, and practical training at a hospital's department of pathology.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the correlation of DNA sequence copy number aberrations (DSCNAs)with clinicopathologic parameters in patients with colorectal cancer(CRC).

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization (CGH) method was used in analysis of 73 cases with CRC. Statistical analysis was performed using Stat View statistical software package(5.0).

RESULTSLoss of 8pl2-pter and gain of 8q23-qter were linked to nodal metastasis, while loss of 18q12-qter and gain of 8q23-qter were associated with distant organ metastasis at diagnosis and (or) recurrence after surgery. Moreover, losses of 8pl2-pter and 18q12-qter and gain of 8q23-qter were associated significantly with unfavorable prognosis. Multivariate analysis revealed that loss of 18q12-qter was an independent prognostic marker.

CONCLUSIONOur findings indicate that genetic aberrations detected by CGH may predict outcome in patients with CRC, and may provide useful information for clinical treatment. Comparative genomic hybridization;

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cecal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; genetics ; Colonic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gene Dosage ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Prognosis ; Rectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology