Blanco-Calvo, MoisésConcha, ÁngelFigueroa, AngélicaGarrido, FedericoValladares-Ayerbes, Manuel2015-11-232015-11-232015-06-15Blanco-Calvo M, Concha Á, Figueroa A, Garrido F, Valladares-Ayerbes M. Colorectal Cancer Classification and Cell Heterogeneity: A Systems Oncology Approach. Int J Mol Sci. 2015; 16(6):13610-13632http://hdl.handle.net/10668/2076REVIEW;Colorectal cancer is a heterogeneous disease that manifests through diverse clinical scenarios. During many years, our knowledge about the variability of colorectal tumors was limited to the histopathological analysis from which generic classifications associated with different clinical expectations are derived. However, currently we are beginning to understand that under the intense pathological and clinical variability of these tumors there underlies strong genetic and biological heterogeneity. Thus, with the increasing available information of inter-tumor and intra-tumor heterogeneity, the classical pathological approach is being displaced in favor of novel molecular classifications. In the present article, we summarize the most relevant proposals of molecular classifications obtained from the analysis of colorectal tumors using powerful high throughput techniques and devices. We also discuss the role that cancer systems biology may play in the integration and interpretation of the high amount of data generated and the challenges to be addressed in the future development of precision oncology. In addition, we review the current state of implementation of these novel tools in the pathological laboratory and in clinical practice.enColorectal cancerClassificationHeterogeneityCancer systems biologyMolecular pathologyTargeted therapyPrecision medicineNeoplasias ColorrectalesMedicina IndividualizadaTerapia Molecular DirigidaHumanosBiología de SistemasMedical Subject Headings::Diseases::Neoplasms::Neoplasms by Site::Digestive System Neoplasms::Gastrointestinal Neoplasms::Intestinal Neoplasms::Colorectal NeoplasmsMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Individualized MedicineMedical Subject Headings::Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment::Therapeutics::Drug Therapy::Molecular Targeted TherapyMedical Subject Headings::Organisms::Eukaryota::Animals::Chordata::Vertebrates::Mammals::Primates::Haplorhini::Catarrhini::Hominidae::HumansMedical Subject Headings::Disciplines and Occupations::Natural Science Disciplines::Biological Science Disciplines::Biology::Computational Biology::Systems Biologyreview article26084042open access10.3390/ijms1606136101422-0067